China Rejects US Allegations on AI Distillation as Groundless

China's Ministry of Commerce has firmly rejected recent US allegations that Chinese artificial intelligence companies are engaged in industrial-scale distillation of capabilities from US AI models. In a statement on Wednesday, a ministry spokesperson described the accusations as groundless and lacking any legal basis.

The spokesperson argued that the US move politicises distillation, which is a normal technical and commercial practice in the AI industry. Distillation, the spokesperson explained, is a neutral technical means used by model developers worldwide, including US firms, to improve learning efficiency and make better use of human knowledge. It is considered significant for the development of AI across countries.

Beijing also pointed to an apparent double standard, noting that Chinese open-source models are available to global enterprises, and some US companies have openly disclosed distilling large numbers of Chinese models. The repeated unilateral accusations against Chinese firms, the spokesperson said, reflect US anxiety and an attempt to maintain a monopoly over computing power and data, while preventing other countries from sharing in AI innovation.

The statement recalled that the two heads of state have agreed to hold an intergovernmental dialogue on AI. China, it said, is willing to engage in constructive and professional discussions with the US on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation. However, if Washington takes action to suppress Chinese AI enterprises under the pretext of targeting distillation, China will take resolute countermeasures.