Tensions within the artificial intelligence (AI) community escalated when OpenAI, the non-profit organization responsible for the powerful GPT technology, cut ties with ByteDance, the parent company of the hugely popular TikTok app. The move followed the revelation that ByteDance had secretly used OpenAI's technology to develop its own AI model, codenamed 'Project Seed'.
According to The edge, this practice is widely considered a faux pas in the AI world. It is also a direct violation of OpenAI's terms of service, which states that the model output cannot be used “to develop artificial intelligence models that compete with our products and services.” OpenAI is supported by Microsoft, through which ByteDance purchases its OpenAI access, and follows the same policy.
ByteDance, which is already subject to intense official scrutiny due to its ties to the Chinese government and concerns regarding the popular TikTok app, will now face increased scrutiny following these revelations. This revelation adds an additional layer of complexity to ByteDance's operational landscape in the United States.
“All API customers must adhere to our usage policies to ensure our technology is used for good,” OpenAI spokesperson Niko Felix told us. The edge. “While ByteDance's use of our API was minimal, we have suspended their account while we investigate further.”
“If we discover that their use is not in accordance with this policy, we will ask them to make the necessary changes or terminate their account,” the spokesperson added.
China's AI race heated up in June this year when ByteDance, the tech giant behind TikTok, joined the fray. They began testing their own AI chatbot internally, aiming to become China's answer to ChatGPT, a dominant AI language model from OpenAI. This move put them in direct competition with other tech giants such as Alibaba and Baidu, all of which are vying for the top spot in the fast-growing Chinese AI market.