Chinese artificial intelligence company Moonshot AI, known for its Kimi assistant, has publicly denied online rumors about its founder and employees, calling the information "pure fiction" and saying it has reported the matter to the police.
In a statement posted on its official Weibo account on September 12, the company said the rumors were malicious fabrications and that it had already filed a report with public security authorities. It vowed to pursue legal action against those responsible and urged the public not to spread unverified information.
Background and context
According to IThome (IThome), the police have not yet issued a public notice about the case, and Moonshot AI has not disclosed further details. The rumors, which circulated on Chinese social media, have not been detailed by the company.
The denial comes amid heightened attention on Moonshot AI, which has been in the spotlight for its Kimi large language model. Earlier reports, also cited by IThome, suggested the company is targeting an annualized revenue of $2 billion by the end of this year, and that it is considering a dual listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai. However, a person familiar with the matter denied the listing rumor, calling it inaccurate.
Moonshot AI is one of China's prominent AI startups, competing in the generative AI space with models like Kimi. The company has attracted significant investment and user interest, making it a frequent subject of online speculation.
The company's statement reflects a broader trend in China's tech industry, where companies increasingly respond publicly to unverified rumors, sometimes involving legal action, as part of efforts to protect their reputation and investor confidence.
As of the time of writing, no further official statements from Moonshot AI or law enforcement have been released.
Based on reporting by IT之家. Edited and published in English by geisou.
