Experts say exploiting Anthropic’s Fable isn’t how Kimi K3 got so good
TechCrunch AI Tim Fernholz ● Covered by 18 sources
White House science advisor Michael Kratsios alleged that Chinese AI company Moonshot copied Anthropic's Fable model to create Kimi K3, but AI researchers say distillation alone couldn't produce such capabilities in the timeframe available since Fable's July 1st public release. Experts suggest Kimi K3's strength likely comes from reinforcement learning techniques and possibly access to advanced Nvidia chips through unofficial channels, rather than simple model distillation. The allegations highlight tensions over technology transfer and export controls, though questions remain about the specific evidence behind the claims.
Why it matters
"I don't think you get a model this strong and this quickly on the heels of Fable doing strictly distillation," one expert told TechCrunch.
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