Anthropic says China’s AI tigers are copycats
The Economist
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Anthropic has accused Chinese AI labs of engaging in unethical practices by copying American models. The company revealed that leading Chinese AI research institutions have been "distilling" U.S.-based chatbots—using their responses to replicate similar functionality in their own systems. This practice, which involves feeding prompts into American models to mimic their outputs, is seen as a form of intellectual property theft. Experts warn that these actions could undermine global innovation and competition in the AI sector.
The allegations come amid heightened tensions between U.S. and Chinese tech firms. Anthropic and OpenAI have both pointed to evidence suggesting that Chinese labs are illicitly using American models to train their own systems, potentially bypassing significant development costs. This "distillation" process is controversial because it allows Chinese researchers to leverage the advancements made by U.S. AI companies without investing in the same level of R&D. Critics argue that this not only devalues the intellectual property of American firms but also creates an uneven playing field in the global AI race.
The implications for business and international relations are profound. If proven true, these allegations could escalate trade tensions and lead to stricter export controls on AI technology. American officials have expressed concern over China's rapid advancements in AI, particularly in areas like deep learning and generative models. The U.S. is increasingly viewed as a global leader in AI innovation, with its models being seen as some of the most valuable assets in the world today.
From a business perspective, this issue highlights the delicate balance between collaboration and competition in the tech industry. While cross-border partnerships have historically driven technological progress, allegations of copying raise ethical and legal questions about intellectual property rights. Companies and governments are now faced with tough decisions regarding how to protect their innovations while fostering international cooperation in AI development.
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Originally published on The Economist on 2/25/2026