App users warned Beijing could weaponise Chinese chatbot for ‘surveillance and coercion’ - DeepSeek says its AI model is similar to US giants like OpenAI, despite fears of censorship around issues sen
DeepSeek says its AI model is similar to US giants like OpenAI, despite fears of censorship around issues sensitive to Beijing
The Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek has rattled markets with claims its latest AI model performs on a par with those of OpenAI, despite using less advanced, more energy efficient computer chips.
U.S. companies were spooked when the Chinese startup released models said to match or outperform leading American ones at a fraction of the cost.
DeepSeek is also keen to toe the official line on Hong Kong, the semi-autonomous territory that saw massive anti-Beijing unrest in 2019. It blamed that unrest - which saw millions take to the streets to call for more autonomy for the city - on a "very small number of people with ulterior motives".
People are proud that genuine innovation is happening in China … and by a founder who’s never received an overseas education,” says an analyst.
As Chinese AI application DeepSeek attracts hordes of American users, Trump administration officials, lawmakers and cybersecurity experts are expressing concern that the technology could pose a threat to U.S. national security.
How did a little-known Chinese start-up build a powerful new AI model despite restrictions?
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The 40-year-old founder of China's DeepSeek, an AI startup that has startled markets with its capacity to compete with industry leaders like OpenAI, kept a low profile as he built up a hedge fund that now manages a reported $8 billion in assets.
Observers are eager to see whether the Chinese company has matched America's leading AI companies at a fraction of the cost.