IQ.Lvbs alleges suspicious requests came from a Comma.AI IP address

Alleged attack followed launch of NovaSpark driving model in Comma.AI Discord channel

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Updated21 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Automotive technology startup IQ.Lvbs has alleged that its systems were subjected to repeated hacking attempts between October 7 and 14, aimed at stealing its new driving model, NovaSpark. According to a blog post from the company, the first requests came from an IP address assigned to Comma.AI, a rival in the self-driving space. Zotpaper has not independently verified the allegations. An IP address assignment does not establish who made or authorised the requests. The alleged attacks began shortly after IQ.Lvbs introduced NovaSpark in a Comma.AI Discord channel on October 3.

According to a blog post by IQ.Lvbs, the company faced repeated attempts to steal NovaSpark, access users' devices, and exploit their sign-in system between October 7 and 14. IQ.Lvbs said the first requests came from an IP address assigned to Comma.ai. On October 8, IQ.Lvbs' team was banned from the Comma.ai Discord channel, with some private beta testers also reportedly banned.

In a Discord message, Comma.ai CTO Harald Schäfer (user Torq_boi) wrote that NovaSpark appeared to be a fine-tune of Comma.ai's Rebellious Hope model, calling it 'not cool' to claim otherwise. IQ.Lvbs disputes this, stating that the claim 'does not survive scrutiny' and that Comma.ai lacks access to NovaSpark's model weights.

IQ.Lvbs says it is reviewing legal options and considering involving authorities. Comma.ai and Schäfer did not respond to requests for comment from The Register. Separately, Comma.ai is under investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over whether its automation technology was involved in five crashes resulting in three deaths.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The outcome could set a precedent for how open-source AI model disputes are handled.
The case raises concerns about cybersecurity in the autonomous vehicle industry, where proprietary models are critical.
It may affect trust between hardware and software developers in the self-driving ecosystem.

Background

Comma.ai is a company known for open-source self-driving software and hardware. IQ.Lvbs is a startup that developed NovaSpark, a driving model designed to work with Comma.ai's camera hardware. After announcing the model in Comma.ai's community Discord, IQ.Lvbs claims it was targeted by hacking attempts originating from Comma.ai's IP address.

Key Perspectives

IQ.Lvbs: The startup claims it was attacked and that its model was independently developed, not derivative of work from Comma.ai. Comma.ai: A message from the company's CTO in Discord suggested NovaSpark was a fine-tune of Comma.ai's model, implying misuse of open-source resources. Comma.ai did not otherwise comment. Critics/Skeptics: The evidence provided so far is only on the side of IQ.Lvbs, and IP addresses can be spoofed. Independent verification is needed.

What to Watch

Whether IQ.Lvbs files a lawsuit or contacts law enforcement.
Any official statement from Comma.ai or its legal team.
Updates from the NHTSA investigation into Comma.ai's driving automation technology.

Sources

Auto tech startup claims it traced hack attempt back to rival's IP address · www.theregister.com - Articles

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedIQ.Lvbs alleges that the first suspicious requests came from an IP address assigned to Comma.ai.www.theregister.com - Articles: ““The first requests came from an IP assigned to Comma.ai Inc.””
SupportedThe alleged attack followed NovaSpark’s October 3 introduction in a Comma.ai Discord channel.www.theregister.com - Articles: “On October 3, IQ.Lvbs introduced the private beta of NovaSpark, the first model for the company's IQ.Pilot app, in the Comma.ai Discord channel.”
SupportedIQ.Lvbs said it faced repeated attempts from October 7 to 14 to steal NovaSpark, access users’ devices and exploit its sign-in system.www.theregister.com - Articles: ““From October 7 to 14, we faced repeated attempts to steal NovaSpark, access users’ devices and private driving files, and exploit our sign-in system,” the IQ.Lvbs blog post claims.”
Not in the sourcesZotpaper has not independently verified the allegations.
Not in the sourcesAn IP address assignment does not establish who made or authorised the requests.
SupportedIQ.Lvbs’ team was banned from the Comma.ai Discord channel on October 8.www.theregister.com - Articles: “In addition, on October 8 – shortly after the alleged attacks began – somebody banned IQ.Lvbs' team from the Comma.ai Discord channel.”
SupportedSome private beta testers were also reportedly banned from the channel.www.theregister.com - Articles: “Posts on the IQ.Pilot Discord channel indicate that individuals doing private beta testing for IQ.Lvbs have also been banned from that channel.”
Partly supportedThe Torq_boi account belonged to Comma.ai CTO Harald Schäfer.www.theregister.com - Articles: “An October 7, 2026 Discord message from user Torq_boi, said to be Harald Schäfer, Comma.ai’s CTO, implies NovaSpark was distilled from Comma.ai's Rebellious Hope model.”
SupportedIn the Discord message, Torq_boi said NovaSpark was a fine-tune of a Comma.ai model and called it “not cool” to claim otherwise.www.theregister.com - Articles: ““But don’t lie to people about what you’re doing, and saying it’s not a finetune of existing comma models when it is. That’s not cool.””
SupportedIQ.Lvbs said the claim that NovaSpark was a fine-tune “does not survive scrutiny” and that Comma.ai did not possess its model weights.www.theregister.com - Articles: ““The claim that NovaSpark is Rebellious Hope with a short fine-tune and an unchanged policy does not survive scrutiny, and we’re not sure how Comma came to that conclusion, especially considering that they do not possess NovaSpark’s model weights or ONNX,” the biz said.”
SupportedIQ.Lvbs said it was reviewing legal options and considering involving authorities.www.theregister.com - Articles: ““We are currently reviewing our legal options and looking into involving the authorities,” said Cat.”
SupportedComma.ai is under NHTSA investigation over whether its automation technology contributed to five crashes and three deaths.www.theregister.com - Articles: “Comma.ai is currently being investigated [PDF] by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to assess whether its driving automation tech contributed to five crashes and three deaths.”