New Delhi. The United States and China are facing renewed tensions over artificial intelligence after the White House alleged that China-linked networks were using “AI distillation” techniques to extract data and model intelligence from advanced American AI systems. Beijing has rejected the allegations as completely baseless, saying its AI progress is driven by domestic research, innovation and international collaboration.
White House Flags Alleged Replication of Frontier AI Models
According to a memo issued by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, China-linked networks are allegedly attempting to replicate US frontier AI models through coordinated and systematic efforts. The memo claims that these activities go beyond standard research and amount to an attempt to reconstruct proprietary American AI technology.
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US officials have alleged that thousands of fake and automated accounts are being used to interact continuously with large AI systems. These accounts are suspected of trying to extract non-public or restricted information from the models in what is being described in the dispute as AI distillation.
AI Distillation at Centre of Dispute
AI distillation is a machine learning technique in which knowledge from a large and complex model is transferred into a smaller model. It is commonly used to improve efficiency and reduce computational requirements.
The US, however, claims that the technique is being misused through methods such as jailbreaking, which can bypass safety restrictions and extract sensitive outputs from AI systems. The report suggests that bot-driven activity and fake user profiles are being used to imitate normal human behaviour, making detection more difficult.
Beijing Rejects Claims as AI Rivalry Deepens
China has firmly denied the allegations. The Chinese Embassy in Washington described the claims as baseless and politically motivated, while Chinese officials said the country remains committed to protecting intellectual property rights.
The dispute comes amid intensified competition between the two countries for leadership in artificial intelligence. Analysts say issues such as data security, model governance, intellectual property and technological sovereignty are becoming increasingly sensitive as AI becomes central to economic and strategic power.
The controversy has also emerged as discussions continue over a possible visit by US President Donald Trump to Beijing, adding diplomatic weight to an already tense technology dispute.
