deepseek

As some US politicians push to ban Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from government devices and amplify so-called security concerns,MKS sports global tech experts are increasingly focusing on the groundbreaking advancements the software could bring to the world, with DeepSeek set to become a central topic at the upcoming AI Summit in Paris. Some analysts said that the global recognition of DeepSeek highlights the clear truth that efforts to contain Chinese technologies are futile and technological breakthroughs will inevitably overcome political barriers.

Even as DeepSeek shakes up the AI sector with its breakthroughs, US politicians are considering a ban on the app from government devices. The latest move came Thursday as the Associated Press reported that Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Representative Darin LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, introduced the "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act." They cited concerns over the Chinese government's potential use of the app for "surveillance and misinformation" as the reason to block it from federal networks.

Certain countries, most of which are US allies, are reportedly blocking access to or restricting the use of DeepSeek citing so-called "security concerns." In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference on Thursday that the Chinese government attaches great importance to data privacy and security and protects it in accordance with the law. "We have never asked and will never ask any company or individual to collect or store data against laws."

China has all along opposed moves to overstretch the concept of national security or politicize trade and tech issues, and will firmly protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies, Guo said. 

These countries' perception of "security risks" primarily stems from political bias. It is evident that Western societies find it challenging to accept high-tech products from China, Li Baiyang, an associate professor of intelligence studies at Nanjing University, told the Global Times. 

Continuing its longstanding pattern of smearing China and in line with these US politicians' anti-China narrative, a VOA report in Chinese language alleged that DeepSeek could potentially become a tool for "speech control" and "public opinion manipulation." 

The so-called claim of "speech control" is completely baseless and absurd, said Li, noting that DeepSeek offers a different approach by providing a transparent chain of thought (COT) in its reasoning process, and "this level of transparency leads to greater clarity and stronger explaining ability, which would help mitigate the risk of bias." 

In response to a question regarding DeepSeek and AI cooperation between China and the US, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN recently also said that technological containment and restrictions do not work. This is a lesson the whole world, especially the US, should learn.

"From Huawei to TikTok, and now to DeepSeek - how many more does the US want to impose a ban [on]?... "We don't need more bans," Fu pointed out, noting that China and the US, as two leading nations in AI, cannot afford not to cooperate.

Liu Dingding, a technology industry observer, told the Global Times that the arguments behind some countries' moves, including Italy's ban and Australia's claims of data security concerns, are mere pretexts. The true motivation lies in how DeepSeek's formidable capabilities have upended the West's established power dynamics in this field.

For years, we were conditioned to believe AI advancement required massive computing power, vast chip reserves, and institutional monopolies. Now, breakthroughs achieved through cost-effective, open-access models have shattered this paradigm - effectively dismantling the old order dominated by vested interests, Liu Dingding said. 

'Breakthrough will unlock political blockades'

In an explanation of the proposed banning act, the US politician LaHood stated that the technology race with China is "not one the United States can afford to lose" and claimed that "it is critical that Congress safeguard Americans' data and continue to ensure American leadership in AI," AP reported. 

The phrase "cannot afford to lose" vividly illustrates the fundamental mindset of some US politicians — leveraging various policies and regulations to maintain its dominance in the field of AI, even when it comes to open-source large models that could benefit the general public, said Li, noting that for the US, preserving hegemony and monopolies in the AI sector takes precedence over enabling the public to access the latest technological innovations.

Unlike the political decision to ban access to or restrict the use of DeepSeek, tech experts and industry leaders are more readily embracing the AI platform. For instance, according to a report from Reuters on February 3, DeepSeek's emergence is changing the landscape for AI, offering companies access to the technology at a fraction of the cost, according to interviews with more than a dozen startup executives and investors. 

Europe's tech startups had struggled to adopt the new technology at the same rate as US rivals, which have easier access to funding. But executives say DeepSeek could be a game changer, said the Reuters report. 

Some media also noted that DeepSeek would be a focus at the 2025 AI Action Summit, which is scheduled to kick off on February 10.

An article released on the website of New America, an American think tank, which talked about the upcoming summit noted that "some American policymakers are responding to Chinese AI advancement not with competitive innovation, but with digital isolationism that could fragment the global AI ecosystem even further." 

It also noted that "DeepSeek appears to have achieved this feat while operating under American semiconductor sanctions… DeepSeek claims to have managed with just 2,000 [chips to train]. If true, this represents more than mere technical ingenuity—it suggests that attempts to maintain technological supremacy through export controls may be fundamentally misguided."

Judging from the widespread recognition from the tech community, it is clear that the move to ban DeepSeek pushed by some US politicians is primarily a political decision against China, not simply a technology issue, showing the double standard on how Chinese technology related issues are handled in the US, Li said.

However, despite the various methods employed by the US to contain Chinese technology, significant technological breakthroughs will inevitably make political blockades futile, as such advancements are unstoppable, Li said.