White House accuses China’s Moonshot AI of stealing US technology

July 23, 2026 - 17:29

The White House has formally accused Chinese artificial intelligence startup Moonshot AI of stealing proprietary technology from the United States, escalating tensions in the global AI race. According to a report from Anadolu, US officials claim that Moonshot used stolen data from American firm Anthropic to develop its latest large language model, Kimi K3. The allegations also include the unauthorized use of restricted Nvidia hardware, which is subject to US export controls aimed at limiting China's access to advanced semiconductor technology.

Moonshot AI, known for its popular Kimi chatbot, has denied the accusations, stating that it develops all its models through independent research. The company argued that the US claims are baseless and part of a broader effort to stifle Chinese innovation. However, the Biden administration has signaled it may impose new sanctions on Moonshot, potentially cutting off its access to American cloud computing services and chip suppliers.

The case highlights the deepening divide between the two nations over AI development. US officials have increasingly warned that Chinese firms are benefiting from American research while bypassing export restrictions. Industry experts note that if the allegations are proven, it could lead to stricter controls on AI knowledge sharing and hardware sales, further fragmenting the global tech landscape. Moonshot has vowed to fight any sanctions, calling the accusations a distraction from its rapid progress in the AI field.