DeepSeek: The Chinese AI Chatbot That’s Sending Shivers Down the Spines of World Leaders
Who Has Banned DeepSeek?
DeepSeek, the Chinese AI chatbot, has been banned by several governments around the world, including Italy, Taiwan, Australia, and the United States. The ban is due to concerns over the potential leak of sensitive information through generative AI services.
Why Are They Worried?
The terms and conditions of DeepSeek’s privacy policy include a section on the provision of personal data to third parties, similar to that used by OpenAI’s Chat GPT. While US companies typically resist government requests for data, "in China when the government requests access, companies are legally obligated to provide user data," said Youm Heung-youl, a data security professor at Soonchunhyang University.
Is This Justified?
DeepSeek’s privacy policy also collects information on "key stroke patterns or rhythms" which detects how an individual interacts with each button. However, Beijing claims the restrictions do not reflect legitimate national security concerns but highlight "the politicisation of economic, trade and technological issues." It says the Chinese government "will never require enterprises or individuals to illegally collect or store data."
Is This Unexpected?
Despite the sudden ban, experts point to the enormous amount of research and development (R&D) China has poured into companies in recent years. According to data from the Korea Chamber of Commerce, China ranked second among the world’s top R&D investors, following the US, but showed the most significant growth, with its investment volume soaring more than 11-fold over the past decade.
What’s Next?
DeepSeek has thrown the industry into turmoil, with semiconductor exporting powerhouses South Korea and Taiwan thriving on sales of cutting-edge chips. However, DeepSeek claims it uses less-advanced H800 chips to power its large learning model, which has raised questions over the need for software development.
Conclusion
The ban on DeepSeek has sent shockwaves around the world, with countries scrambling to prevent potential leaks of sensitive information. While the debate surrounding the app’s privacy policy and data collection practices continues, one thing is certain – the world is watching as a new era of AI-powered technology unfolds.
FAQs
Q: What is DeepSeek?
A: DeepSeek is a Chinese AI chatbot that uses generative AI services to provide user-friendly interfaces.
Q: Why has DeepSeek been banned?
A: DeepSeek has been banned due to concerns over the potential leak of sensitive information through generative AI services.
Q: What is the controversy surrounding DeepSeek’s privacy policy?
A: The terms and conditions of DeepSeek’s privacy policy include a section on the provision of personal data to third parties, which has raised concerns over data security and privacy.
Q: What is the response of the Chinese government?
A: The Chinese government has claimed that the restrictions do not reflect legitimate national security concerns but highlight "the politicisation of economic, trade and technological issues."