DeepSeek V4.1 Flash Claims to Be ChatGPT, Sparking Distillation Rumors

On October 18, blogger scaling01 published multiple hands-on tests showing that DeepSeek V4.1 Flash (version 1017), when asked "what model are you," repeatedly answered "I am ChatGPT developed by OpenAI," joking about it under the title "Congratulations on OpenAI's model release." He also found that after removing OpenRouter's default system prompt, the model still identified itself as ChatGPT, suggesting it may have been distilled from or fine-tuned on an OpenAI model, leaving ChatGPT's self-identity lingering in the training data.

Confirmed

• In repeated tests, scaling01 showed that ds-4.1-flash-1017 still called itself ChatGPT without the default system prompt, with screenshots provided
• A user tested it with a model fingerprinting attribution tool, which found the most likely model to be gpt-6-astra (probability 84.66%, GPT model family 90.71%), followed by claude-sonnet-5-5 (9.17%)
• scaling01 also cited the ModelTrace tool, saying the model's output fingerprint on a long-integer generation challenge shows its numerical behavior most closely resembles GPT-6-Astra

Unconfirmed

• All "rebranding/distillation" conclusions come from third-party tools and self-identity behavior; neither DeepSeek nor OpenAI has responded, the reliability of the fingerprinting tools themselves is unverified, and scaling01 acknowledges the claims are unproven

Why it matters

• If true, it would directly damage DeepSeek's reputation for independent R&D and involve potential violations of OpenAI's model terms of service; even if false, the confused self-identity exposes distilled data contamination or system prompt configuration issues, highlighting the growing role of third-party model attribution tools

2026-10-18 ~ 2026-10-18 · 6 related posts

• Fingerprint test claims DeepSeek V4.1 Flash is actually GPT-6 Astra (unverified) — wateriscoding · 2026-10-18
• [source] DeepSeek V4.1 Flash claims to be ChatGPT in identity checks, screenshot shows — scaling01 · 2026-10-18
• New model repeatedly identifies itself as ChatGPT in hands-on test — scaling01 · 2026-10-18
• [source] Model repeatedly claims to be ChatGPT once OpenRouter default system prompt removed — scaling01 · 2026-10-18
• [source] Unverified claim: DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash's fingerprints allegedly resemble 'GPT-6-Astra' — scaling01 · 2026-10-18
• DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017 Reportedly Identifies as ChatGPT, Sparking X Drama — teortaxesTex · 2026-10-18