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AI’s New Risk: Can Top Models Be Copied?

Model Copying Claims Add New Risk to AI Stocks February 25, 2026
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Changes in the Market are on display AI Innovation Meets Geopolitics

Good Morning,

Under the surface a new fight is brewing in AI. Anthropic says Chinese firms copied parts of its Claude model using a technique called distillation, raising fresh concerns about intellectual property and national security. We break down what happened, why it matters for AI leaders and investors, and what it could mean for tech policy as the U.S. and China compete for dominance. If you’re indexed to the S&P or heavy in AI winners, this is the one to read

PepsiCo extends its 54-year dividend growth streak despite softer volumes, AI missteps drive record C-suite turnover, and Meta eyes a stablecoin comeback through a Stripe partnership.

Don't forget to voice your opinion in my polls below.

Here are your Morning Bullets.

– Truly yours, Fred Frost


📉 Yesterday's Market Recap

Yesterday, the Dow climbed 0.27% to 48,935.82, buoyed by Home Depot’s earnings beat, but the NASDAQ and S&P 500 slipped 0.39% and 0.30% respectively as tech faltered. Inflation worries and tariff turbulence kept sentiment uneven, with commodity prices like gold dropping 1% to $5,171.10.


  • Home Depot Beats Expectations: Q4 earnings hit $2.72 per share on $38.198 billion revenue, exceeding forecasts and lifting the Dow. → Benzinga

  • Larimar Therapeutics Soars 41%: Shares spiked after FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation for its ataxia treatment. → Stocktwits

  • Tech Drags Markets Down: NASDAQ fell 0.39% to 22,538.28, reflecting broader uncertainty in AI and tech valuations. → The Street


📉 Daily Performance Snapshot

Index/Asset Closing Value Change
S&P 500 6,890.07 +52.32 (+0.77%)
Nasdaq 22,863.68 +236.41 (+1.04%)
Dow Jones 49,174.50 +370.44 (+0.76%)
Gold $5,228.55 -0.32 (-0.01%)
Crude Oil $66.72 +0.41 (+0.62%)
Bitcoin $64,873.00 +1,804.00 (+2.86%)
10-yr Treasury Yield 4.03% +0.004 (+0.10%)

🔭 What to Watch Today

Today’s calendar has potential market movers, from tax policy insights to consumer sentiment data. Keep your eyes on these events for ripples in equities and beyond.

  • MarketWatch Tax Webinar (1:30 PM ET): A live discussion on 2026 tax changes and AI in financial planning could signal shifts for investor strategies. → MarketWatch
  • Consumer Confidence Fallout: After February’s modest rise to 91.2, watch for analyst reactions that might sway retail and discretionary stocks. → ABC News
  • Fed’s Next Move: Goolsbee’s stance on holding rates until inflation cools further could pressure bond yields and equities. → CNBC

  • 💡 Opportunity Watch

    Amid market choppiness, a few sectors and stocks are showing promise tied to recent economic shifts. Here’s where the smart money might look today.

    • Kosmos Energy (KOS): Up 130% YTD, this pure-play upstream oil stock is a high-leverage bet on crude prices with outsized gains potential. → Benzinga
    • Gold as a Hedge: Despite a 1% dip, a 5-10% allocation to gold could shield retirees from equity volatility amid tariff uncertainty. → Money

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    The Big Bullet

    Anthropic says Chinese firms copied parts of Claude as it rolls out new tools

    What happened: Anthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot, said three Chinese firms copied parts of its system by using a technique called "distillation" that learns from a model’s outputs. They say the firms used access to Claude and then trained their own models to act similarly, which could break rules and raise security concerns. In the same news cycle, Anthropic’s live AI event highlighted new product updates and how it plans to sell more tools to businesses. The claim was reported in a report on alleged copying of Claude by Chinese companies. The company did not say the full size of the damage, but it framed the issue as both a business and a national-security risk. The story comes while AI makers are racing to release stronger models and more features. That fast pace can make it easier for rivals to learn from public tools and copy behavior. Anthropic’s comments add to a growing list of disputes about who owns training data and model know-how.


    Why it matters: If AI models can be copied quickly, the leaders may have a harder time earning back what they spend on chips, data, and staff. That can pressure profits for AI labs and for big tech firms that fund or host them. To respond, companies may tighten access, add more checks, or push harder into paid products like new AI legal tools aimed at lawyers. Stronger controls can also slow down small developers who rely on open access to test ideas. The dispute also feeds into U.S.-China tech tension, which can lead to tougher rules on data sharing and advanced computing. For investors, the key risk is that legal fights and security rules can change who can sell AI services, and where. At the same time, steady business demand matters, and new enterprise plugins for Cowork signal a push to lock in workplace customers. That could support revenue, but it may also raise costs for compliance and monitoring.

    What’s next: Watch whether Anthropic files formal complaints, changes its terms of service, or asks cloud partners to block certain traffic. Any public evidence it shares could shape how other AI firms handle copying claims. Policy signals matter too, since Fed officials are now talking openly about AI’s risks and job impacts, which can influence future rules and spending. Investors should also watch how fast AI-driven growth shows up in the real economy, and whether it brings new volatility. One angle comes from a note warning that AI can lift growth while raising tail risks. On the business side, pay attention to pricing changes, limits on free use, and new paid bundles for companies. If limits get tighter, smaller app makers may shift to other models, which can move market share fast. Finally, track any new headlines from China or U.S. agencies that connect AI copying to security reviews or export rules.

    Reader Feedback

    Last time, I asked you: Who do you trust least to keep prices from going up?

    The majority of you at 43% said "The White House"

    David from Arizona replied: “I trust the White House the least because prices keep going up and it doesn’t feel like they’re fixing it.”

    As always if your opinion is not here, or you want to throw your two cents at me, reply to the E-mail, and let me know your exact thoughts.


    🧭 Policy & Market Ripples

    • PepsiCo’s Dividend Streak: A 4% dividend hike marks 54 years of increases, despite a 2% volume drop, signaling resilience in consumer staples. → The Street
    • AI Leadership Reckoning: Record C-suite turnover in 2025 tied to poor AI ROI suggests firms must rethink strategy, not just tech. → Fortune
    • Meta’s Stablecoin Revival: Partnering with Stripe for a dollar-pegged token, Meta aims to reenter crypto despite regulatory headwinds. → Stocktwits

    📜 This Day in History – February 25

    February 25 is a case study in systems-building — patents that shape industries, financial infrastructure that stabilizes markets, design revolutions that redefine modernity, and communication networks that shrink distances.

    Vintage workshop table with early paper money printing plates, engraving tools, and blank sheets, no people or text

    1862 – The U.S. Congress authorized the issuance of paper currency, converting money into a scalable, standardized technology that reshaped national finance.

    1913 – The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City was established, part of the early rollout of America’s modern central banking infrastructure.

    1925 – The Bauhaus school relocated to Dessau, cementing its identity as a hub of industrial design, functional architecture, and global creative influence.

    1928 – The world’s first regularly scheduled television broadcasts began in London, previewing the medium that would become the century’s dominant cultural distributor.

    Today's Trivia

    Which of the following would most likely cause the value of a country’s currency to increase?

    Login or Subscribe to participate

    91% of you chose the right answer to our previous trivia question: Which of the following would most likely increase inflation in the short term?


    The stock market is designed to transfer money from the active to the patient.
    – Warren Buffet
    Thanks for Reading.

    Stay Sharp. Stay Focused.
    Fredrick Frost
    Editor, MorningBullets

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