TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has come under fire for allegedly cutting corners in the development of its AI chatbot. A report from The Verge reveals that ByteDance used OpenAI’s technology to advance its own large language model, a move that violates OpenAI’s terms of service. ByteDance attempted to conceal its use of OpenAI’s API, but internal communications obtained by The Verge showed instructions to mask the evidence. OpenAI has since suspended ByteDance’s account while it investigates the breach.
ByteDance’s actions not only raise eyebrows in the Artificial Intelligence industry but also go against OpenAI’s guidelines. According to OpenAI’s terms of service, customers are prohibited from developing AI models that compete with OpenAI’s own products and services. They are also restricted from extracting data from OpenAI’s APIs, which allow developers to use their technologies to create their own applications.
The Verge’s report suggests that ByteDance was aware of these terms but continued to utilize OpenAI’s API to train and compare its model, known as Project Seed. ByteDance even went as far as employing data desensitization techniques to hide its use of the API. Although ByteDance instructed its employees to stop using the API for Project Seed around the time their chatbot, Doubao, was approved by Chinese regulators, The Verge’s investigation indicates that the API was still being used to assess Doubao’s performance.
Confirming the breach, OpenAI stated that it had suspended ByteDance’s account and would investigate the matter thoroughly. OpenAI expects its customers to adhere to usage policies to ensure the responsible and ethical use of its technology. If ByteDance is found to have violated these policies, OpenAI will require them to make necessary changes or terminate their account.
In response to the allegations, ByteDance denied any wrongdoing and clarified that it was licensed to use OpenAI’s GPT APIs. While ByteDance acknowledges the use of GPT to power products and features in non-China markets, they claim that their self-developed model, not OpenAI’s technology, powers Doubao, which is exclusively available in China.
ByteDance’s use of OpenAI’s technology comes as the Chinese company expands its reach into the AI market. Reports from the South China Morning Post earlier this month indicated that ByteDance was developing its own chatbot-building competitor to OpenAI’s customizable ChatGPT bots.
Over the past year, ByteDance has faced scrutiny from US regulators and lawmakers who express concerns that the company could share user data collected from TikTok with the Chinese government.
It remains to be seen how the investigation into ByteDance’s activities will unfold, and what consequences they may face if found in violation of OpenAI’s terms of service. As ByteDance continues to expand its AI ambitions, it will likely encounter increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies, both in China and abroad.
Source: Business Insider
