OpenAI has suspended ByteDance’s account after tech outlet The Verge reported that the TikTok owner has been secretly using OpenAI’s API to train its own large language model at almost every stage, violating the ChatGPT creator’s business terms that forbid users from developing a rival AI model using ChatGPT outputs. ByteDance acknowledged that it had previously used GPT-generated data to “annotate the model”, but had already removed this data around the middle of this year. The Beijing-based firm implemented most of its GPT usage through Microsoft’s Azure, with an OpenAI spokesperson admitting the usage appeared “minimal”, but the Microsoft-invested startup has nevertheless suspended ByteDance’s account while it undertakes a full investigation into any potential violations of its terms and conditions. [Caixin, in Chinese]