Anthropic said it detected unauthorised efforts by China-based AI labs, including Alibaba and Moonshot AI, to use its Claude models to help improve their own AI systems, according to CNBC.
Key facts
- Anthropic said it detected unauthorised use of its Claude models by China-based AI labs, according to CNBC.
- The labs named in the report are Alibaba and Moonshot AI.
- Anthropic said the alleged efforts were aimed at helping those labs improve their own AI systems.
- The report was published by CNBC on 11 September 2026.
- The named Chinese labs have not commented in the source material, and details such as the scale, timing and method were not provided.
Anthropic, the developer of the Claude family of AI models, said it detected unauthorised efforts by China-based artificial intelligence labs to use its systems to help improve their own models, according to CNBC.
Anthropic named Alibaba and Moonshot AI among the China-based labs involved in the alleged activity, CNBC reported. Anthropic said the efforts were aimed at using Claude to help advance those labs’ own AI systems.
Anthropic described the activity it detected as unauthorised. The source material does not specify the scale, timing or method of the alleged activity, and does not detail the terms under which Claude is made available.
The named Chinese labs had not responded in the source material, and no further context from Anthropic was included. These remain allegations that have not been independently verified in the available reporting.
Why it matters
The allegation, if borne out, would raise questions over intellectual property and the commercial value of costly AI research as US and Chinese firms compete for leadership in the field. The claims come from Anthropic as reported by CNBC and have not yet been independently confirmed, and the named labs have not responded in the available sources.
Frequently asked questions
Which companies did Anthropic name?
According to CNBC, Anthropic named China-based AI labs including Alibaba and Moonshot AI.
What did Anthropic say happened?
Anthropic said it detected unauthorized efforts by China-based AI labs to use its Claude models to help improve their own AI systems, according to CNBC.
When was this reported?
CNBC published the report on September 11, 2026.

