China’s DeepSeek AI

Image Credits: The New York Times DeepSeek is a Chinese start-up run by a quantitative stock trading firm called High-Flyer (caption from The New York Times)

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has quickly become a major player in the industry with its DeepSeek-R1 model, known for its strong performance and cost-effectiveness. The company managed to develop its technology without relying on high-end AI chips restricted by U.S. export controls.

However, DeepSeek has faced criticism over security risks. Experts have found that its AI model is vulnerable to "jailbreaking," allowing users to manipulate it into generating harmful or illicit content, including instructions on weapons creation and self-harm. This has raised concerns about its safety compared to American AI models.

The company’s data collection practices have also sparked debate, as user data is stored on servers in China, raising fears about potential government access. As a result, several countries have banned DeepSeek on government devices, citing security risks.

Despite these controversies, DeepSeek’s rapid progress has fueled discussions about the global AI race, with some experts questioning whether the U.S. still holds a dominant position in AI development.

Read more: BBC (1), BBC (2), The Wall Street Journal*, The New York Times

* - paid source