OpenAI

DeepSeek-linked group suspected in OpenAI data probe

Microsoft and OpenAI are investigating whether a group linked to Chinese AI startup DeepSeek accessed OpenAI data without authorisation. Bloomberg News reported that Microsoft’s security team detected large-scale data transfers last autumn using OpenAI’s application programming interface (API).

Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest investor, flagged the suspicious activity to the AI firm. DeepSeek, a low-cost Chinese AI startup, gained attention after its AI assistant surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT on Apple’s App Store in the US, causing a selloff in tech stocks.

White House AI and crypto adviser David Sacks suggested DeepSeek may have stolen US intellectual property by extracting knowledge from OpenAI’s models. An OpenAI spokesperson acknowledged that foreign firms frequently attempt to replicate its technology and stressed the importance of government collaboration to protect advanced AI models.

Microsoft declined to comment on the matter, while DeepSeek was unavailable for a response. OpenAI stated it actively counters unauthorised attempts to replicate its technology but did not specifically name DeepSeek.

OpenAI faces legal action from Indian news companies

Several prominent Indian media outlets, including those owned by billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, are taking legal action against OpenAI. These outlets, such as NDTV and Network18, along with organisations like the Indian Express and Hindustan Times, have filed to join an ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI in a New Delhi court. They allege that OpenAI has been improperly scraping their copyrighted content to train its AI model, ChatGPT, without permission or payment.

The legal claim, which is being led by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), argues that OpenAI’s practices pose a significant threat to the copyrights of its members. The publishers claim that OpenAI’s actions amount to ‘wilful scraping’ and the use of their work for commercial gain, especially as the company generates revenue through ads linked to AI-generated content. This lawsuit highlights broader concerns in the media industry about the influence of large tech companies on content distribution and monetisation.

The legal proceedings are part of a larger global trend, with authors, musicians, and news organisations worldwide suing AI firms for using their works without compensation. In the US, the New York Times has filed a similar lawsuit against OpenAI and its major backer, Microsoft. This new case in India adds significant pressure to OpenAI, which has denied the allegations, arguing that its AI systems rely on publicly available data and that deleting such data could violate US law.

The Indian plaintiffs argue that OpenAI’s failure to strike content-sharing deals with local publishers, while it has done so with international media outlets, undermines the business of Indian news companies. The publishers warn that OpenAI’s practices could weaken the media landscape and negatively impact democracy, calling for greater protection of intellectual property in the age of AI.

Major AI data centre under construction in Texas

A large-scale data centre tied to Donald Trump’s US$100 billion Stargate initiative is being built in Abilene, Texas. Covering 875 acres, the site is comparable in size to New York’s Central Park.

The project involves collaboration between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, with Oracle leasing the facilities. Construction is led by Crusoe Energy Systems, Blue Owl Capital, and Primary Digital Infrastructure, while financing comes from JPMorgan Chase and others.

The initial phase includes a 200-megawatt data centre, with future plans to expand capacity to 1.2 gigawatts. At least 57 full-time jobs are expected at the site, offering average annual salaries of US$57,600.

Abilene’s development underscores Texas’s growing importance in AI and digital infrastructure, marking a significant milestone in the Stargate initiative.

OpenAI launches AI assistant for everyday tasks

OpenAI has launched an advanced AI agent, Operator, designed to automate repetitive online tasks such as ordering groceries or booking restaurants. Operator uses its own browser to interact with buttons, menus, and text fields, removing the need for custom API integrations.

The tool operates independently once enabled, but it is designed to seek user approval for actions involving sensitive information like logins or payments. Its functionality relies on OpenAI’s GPT-4o vision model and advanced reasoning capabilities, allowing it to self-correct mistakes or transfer control back to users when needed.

Operator is currently in a research preview phase, available exclusively to US-based ChatGPT Pro subscribers. Feedback from early adopters will shape its future development before it becomes accessible to more users.

OpenAI is collaborating with companies including DoorDash, Uber, and StubHub to align Operator with real-world needs and industry norms, ensuring practicality and reliability for diverse applications.

Stargate venture to support OpenAI, according to FT.

Stargate, a new joint venture formed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, aims to build data centres across the US to support the growing demands of AI. According to a report by the Financial Times on Thursday, these data centres will be dedicated solely to OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT. The collaboration between these tech giants underscores the increasing importance of robust infrastructure to power the next wave of AI innovation.

The exclusive focus on OpenAI’s needs comes when AI technologies rapidly expand, with the demand for high-performance computing capabilities soaring. The partnership will allow OpenAI to scale its operations and provide the necessary computing power for its cutting-edge AI models. As companies worldwide race to develop more advanced AI tools, the infrastructure provided by Stargate is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the next generation of AI services.

Oracle and SoftBank’s involvement brings significant expertise in cloud infrastructure and global telecom, making the venture a powerful alliance in the competitive AI landscape. The project highlights the growing intersection of cloud computing, data storage, and AI as companies like OpenAI push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.

Databricks secures $10 billion backing from Meta

Meta Platforms has joined a $10 billion investment round for Databricks, a data analytics firm specialising in AI applications. The funding, which closed on Wednesday, values the San Francisco-based company at $62 billion. This round also included a $5.25 billion credit facility led by major financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, aimed at boosting Databricks’ expansion and product development efforts.

Founded in 2013, Databricks provides tools to help businesses process, analyse, and apply artificial intelligence to complex datasets. The firm has benefited from the increasing corporate demand for AI technology, catalysed by the rapid adoption of platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Meta’s investment strengthens an existing partnership between the two, particularly in leveraging Meta’s Llama, a family of open-source large language models.

With over 10,000 organisations, including Shell and Comcast, already utilising its platform, Databricks is at the forefront of enterprise AI applications. According to CEO Ali Ghodsi, this deepened collaboration with Meta will help Databricks better serve enterprise clients using Llama, further solidifying its position in the AI race.

Trump announces $500 billion AI project Stargate

US President Donald Trump recently unveiled the $500 billion Stargate project, a groundbreaking AI infrastructure initiative that has captured market attention. Collaborating with OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, the project is based in the US and has already secured $100 billion in initial funding. Industry experts suggest this move could significantly influence the AI and cryptocurrency markets.

Dr Max Li, CEO of decentralised cloud platform OORT, highlighted the impact Stargate could have on AI tokens. He noted the strong connection between AI advancements and digital assets, predicting a surge in AI projects and token launches. Li warned that while many projects may emerge, only those with genuine utility and business value would endure.

The announcement triggered immediate market reactions, with AI tokens such as ai16z and Worldcoin seeing notable price increases. The rising interest in the convergence of artificial intelligence and decentralised finance (DeFi) suggests that the Stargate initiative could accelerate innovation in both sectors.

As AI continues to intersect with blockchain, the Stargate project positions the US at the forefront of these technological advancements, paving the way for further growth in AI-driven digital assets.

OpenAI defends itself in ANI copyright lawsuit in India

OpenAI has told an Indian court that removing training data used for its ChatGPT service would conflict with its legal obligations in the United States. The company, backed by Microsoft, is defending a copyright lawsuit filed by Indian news agency ANI, which accuses OpenAI of using its content without permission and demands the deletion of ANI’s data from ChatGPT’s memory.

In a January 10 filing, OpenAI argued that Indian courts lack jurisdiction as the company has no physical presence or data servers in India. It also emphasised its legal obligation in the US to preserve training data while litigation is ongoing. OpenAI denied wrongdoing, asserting its systems make fair use of publicly available data, a stance it has maintained in similar copyright disputes globally.

ANI insists the Delhi court has the authority to rule on the case, citing concerns over unfair competition and alleging that ChatGPT reproduces its content verbatim. OpenAI, however, countered that ANI manipulated prompts to elicit such responses. The court is set to hear the case on January 28, marking a key moment in India’s scrutiny of AI and copyright law.

Google to invest over $1 billion in OpenAI rival Anthropic

Google is making a significant new investment in AI by committing more than $1 billion to Anthropic, according to a report by the Financial Times. Anthropic, a competitor to OpenAI, focuses on developing advanced AI models and tools, positioning itself as a major player in the growing AI sector.

The investment underscores Google’s ongoing commitment to bolstering its AI capabilities in a highly competitive market. As the race to dominate AI innovation intensifies, tech giants like Google are increasingly supporting smaller firms that specialise in cutting-edge developments to stay ahead.

Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI executives, has quickly gained recognition in the AI community. The company aims to create more reliable and interpretable AI systems. Google’s backing is expected to strengthen Anthropic’s research and development efforts, further establishing it as a prominent force in the AI landscape.

Oracle shares surge amidst major AI investment announcement

Oracle shares soared by nearly 9% in Frankfurt on Wednesday following an announcement from former US President Donald Trump about a groundbreaking AI initiative. Oracle, in collaboration with OpenAI and SoftBank, is set to establish a joint venture called Stargate, aiming to revolutionise AI infrastructure.

The ambitious project will see a staggering $500 billion investment, as revealed during Trump’s remarks at the White House the day before. The collaboration highlights the growing significance of AI and signals major players pooling resources to drive technological advancements in this domain.

Investor excitement around Stargate boosted Oracle’s stock performance significantly. After regular trading closed on Tuesday with a 7% rise, the company’s shares climbed an additional 3% in after-hours trading, reflecting strong market optimism.