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US government website used AI search tool from China that FBI said copied Anthropic
The tool let users browse proposed regulations and public comments, drawing scrutiny amid FBI allegations that Alibaba copied Anthropic’s technology.
On Wednesday, the Federal Register website removed a search tool powered by Alibaba after social media posts scrutinized its use for browsing proposed regulations; the National Archives manages the site.
The FBI last week accused Alibaba of "malicious" copying of technology from U.S. rival Anthropic, raising questions whether the federal government contradicted its own messaging regarding Chinese artificial intelligence tools.
Georgetown Law Professor Anupam Chander noted the open-weight model likely presented no "immediate cybersecurity risk" as it processed public content, though developers often use such systems to reduce costs.
Senate Intelligence Committee vice chairman Senator Mark Warner stated risks depend on whether data left secure boundaries; House committees are investigating Airbnb for similar "national security risks created by the integration."
Representative John Moolenaar, a Michigan Republican, argued no federal entity should use Chinese AI models. The Chinese embassy called copying allegations "unfounded," while experts described the choice as "one of the most insane things I've ever seen.