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ByteDance, the guardian firm of TikTok, is suing a former intern for $1.1 million in damages in an alleged AI breach. The former intern, Tian Keyu, allegedly sabotaged the corporate’s synthetic intelligence massive language mannequin coaching infrastructure by deliberately manipulating its code and performing unauthorized modifications.
ByteDance makes use of many alternative synthetic intelligence applied sciences throughout its numerous apps and platforms. For instance, its generative AI mannequin Doubao, which has similarities to ChatGPT, turned the preferred chatbot in China earlier this 12 months. Generative AI makes use of enormous units of information to create textual content, photographs, and different new media content material.
Initial AI Breach Reports
Reports of the AI breach incident started spreading on social media in late October as the general public questioned if the intern had managed to wreck Doubao or one other extremely fashionable AI mannequin. Some folks claimed that the intern had tampered with 1000’s of highly effective graphics processing items (GPU) and precipitated greater than $10 million in damages.
These AI breach rumors prompted ByteDance to launch a press release to the BBC, denying studies of the extent of the damages. However, ByteDance did verify that the intern had been let go in August. ByteDance additionally stated that “the individual was an intern with the [advertising] technology team and has no experience with the AI Lab.” Chinese media retailers recognized Tian as a postgraduate pupil at Peking University.
ByteDance Files a Lawsuit
Now there have been new developments within the case that counsel that the intern might have precipitated extra harm than initially indicated by ByteDance. At the top of November, the Chinese state-owned Legal Weekly reported that ByteDance filed a lawsuit with the Haidian District People’s Court in Beijing. Through the lawsuit, ByteDance is looking for $1.1 million in damages from Tian.
While it’s frequent for Chinese employers to sue workers, it’s uncommon for them to sue a former intern or to ask for such a lot of cash. This case is attracting widespread consideration all through China and the world as folks speculate about how a lot the intern was in a position to harm the AI mannequin and which mannequin might have been concerned.
ByteDance declined to touch upon the lawsuit. Tian additionally didn’t instantly reply for remark when media retailers reached out by way of electronic mail.
