In the context that artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a technology of the future but has already existed and changed the way we live, DeepSeek AI, a product from China, is becoming the center of global debate.
Is DeepSeek AI a driving force for technological innovation on an international scale or a new tool in the technology war between the US and China? The following article will analyze in depth the origin, core technology, applications, prospects and potential risks of DeepSeek AI.
DeepSeek AI is a breakthrough from the East
DeepSeek AI was developed by DeepSeek Technology Company, a Chinese AI startup founded in 2023 in the context of the “Technology Self-Reliance” strategy being promoted by the Chinese government. The birth of DeepSeek AI not only marks a technological step forward but also reflects China’s ambition to become “the leading AI country by 2030”.
This product is strongly supported by venture capital funds and preferential policies, and is oriented to reduce dependence on Western high technology, especially in the fields of semiconductor chips and software.
DeepSeek AI Developed by DeepSeek Technologies
DeepSeek AI Developed by DeepSeek Technologies
DeepSeek-R1 is a reasoning model that uses a step-by-step approach to problem solving, making it particularly adept at tasks in physics, science, and mathematics. The model contains 671 billion parameters, which contribute to its problem-solving capabilities. DeepSeek has also released smaller “extracted” versions of R1, ranging from 1.5 billion to 70 billion parameters, the smallest of which is capable of running on a laptop.
DeepSeek-R1 is a step-by-step problem-solving reasoning model
DeepSeek-R1 is a step-by-step problem-solving reasoning model
As a result, the model is capable of generating Tang Dynasty poems that strictly follow the rules of even and odd tones and rhyme, and can write Python code that integrates “Made in China” AI libraries such as PaddlePaddle, giving it a significant advantage in the context of comparison with Western products.
DeepSeek AI’s training data is built from a total of 2.5 trillion tokens, of which 60% is Chinese data and 40% is multilingual data. This combination not only helps the model capture the nuances of East Asian culture but also supports international language processing, opening up many application opportunities in different fields.
The Opportunity DeepSeek AI Brings to the Global AI Industry
The emergence of DeepSeek AI marks a significant turning point in the AI market context that was previously dominated by Western giants such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. Within the first six months after its launch, DeepSeek AI captured 12% of the enterprise AI market share in Southeast Asia, forcing major technology companies to adjust their pricing and service strategies.
DeepSeek AI Captures 12% of the Enterprise AI Market Share in Southeast Asia
DeepSeek AI Captures 12% of the Enterprise AI Market Share in Southeast Asia
DeepSeek AI is not only a proprietary product but also released in the open source version DeepSeek-7B, opening up opportunities for more than 50,000 global developers to contribute to the technology ecosystem. This strategy helps create a fair competitive environment and foster innovation, thereby building a new standard for the global AI industry.
With the ability to support multiple dialects of Chinese and built-in content moderation algorithms that comply with regulations of each Asian country, DeepSeek AI has met the specific needs of regional businesses, which have had difficulty applying AI products from the West.
DeepSeek AI has met the specific needs of regional businesses
DeepSeek AI has met the specific needs of regional businesses
Threats and challenges from DeepSeek AI
Although DeepSeek AI opens up many development opportunities for the AI industry, there are also many security and political concerns. Incidents related to privacy and data security violations have raised concerns from the international community. The Canadian government’s January 2024 indictment of DeepSeek AI for allegedly illegally collecting research data from three universities illustrates the potential privacy and security risks.
Reports from intelligence agencies, such as Canada’s CSIS, have suggested that the model has the potential to embed security vulnerabilities in the form of “backdoors” in the source code, thereby facilitating large-scale cyberattacks, threatening the national security of many countries.
DeepSeek AI Allegedly Collecting Research Data from Three Universities
DeepSeek AI Allegedly Collecting Research Data from Three Universities
In terms of the labor market, projections from the International Labor Organization (ILO) suggest that the widespread application of DeepSeek AI in the service and manufacturing industries in Southeast Asia could displace up to 26 million jobs by 2030.
In fact, large corporations such as Foxconn have applied DeepSeek AI-integrated automation systems at their Shenzhen factory, resulting in a reduction of about 50% of the workforce in traditional manufacturing processes. This transformation not only causes negative economic impacts but also poses challenges in retraining and career transition for workers.
The Future of DeepSeek AI Possible Scenarios
The development of DeepSeek AI opens up many different future scenarios. One possible scenario is that DeepSeek AI could become a standard platform for developing countries, following a similar model as Android has dominated the low-cost smartphone market. In this context, countries that do not have the conditions to invest in high technology could switch to using DeepSeek AI.
Thereby indirectly helping China control the standards and protocols of the global AI ecosystem. This model not only creates a global network but also promotes cooperation between countries in the “zone of influence” of DeepSeek AI.
DeepSeek AI opens up many different future scenarios
DeepSeek AI opens up many different future scenarios
Another scenario is that the technological confrontation between the US and China could become more evident if the US decides to ban the use of DeepSeek AI, similar to the case with Huawei. In such a scenario, the world could be divided into two distinct ecosystems: the West with products like ChatGPT and Gemini, and the East with DeepSeek AI and related technologies. This division would make it difficult to cooperate internationally in important areas such as healthcare, climate change, and cybersecurity.
US to ban DeepSeek AI
Will the US ban DeepSeek AI?
However, another possibility exists where DeepSeek AI becomes a bridge for cooperation between countries if China is willing to adhere to international standards of algorithmic transparency and data protection. The United Nations’ “AI for Sustainable Development Goals” project is proposing to use DeepSeek AI to analyze data related to poverty and other global issues.
In this case, DeepSeek AI could become a typical example of a transparent and multi-stakeholder-controlled AI platform, contributing to the balance of power in the global technology landscape.
Ethical and legal issues in the AI era
The rapid development of DeepSeek AI and other advanced AI technologies has raised difficult questions about ethics, law, and social responsibility. The issue of data ownership and control becomes urgent when AI systems are trained on huge volumes of data.
Countries and organizations need to cooperate closely to build legal frameworks to ensure that data is not abused for political or commercial purposes without control. At the same time, users’ privacy also needs to be strictly protected under regulations such as GDPR, to avoid negative social consequences.
The rapid development of DeepSeek AI and other advanced AI technologies has raised difficult ethical questions
The rapid development of DeepSeek AI and other advanced AI technologies has raised difficult ethical questions
Bias in information processing and the use of censorship algorithms are also issues that need to be addressed. AI developers and companies need to build internal control mechanisms to ensure that their technology is not used as a tool for propaganda or information manipulation.
In this context, cooperation between legislators, technology experts and NGOs is extremely necessary to create ethical standards and legal regulations that are in line with the development trend of technology.
Conclusion
DeepSeek AI is not only an advanced technology product but also a symbol of the fluctuations in the global technological order. From its ability to disrupt the monopoly of Western giants to promoting new standards for the AI industry, DeepSeek AI opens up many development opportunities for countries, especially emerging economies. At the same time, challenges in cybersecurity, data privacy, freedom of speech and impacts on the labor market also require special attention from the international community.
DeepSeek AI is not only an advanced technology product but also a symbol of fluctuations in the global technological order.
DeepSeek AI is not only an advanced technology product but also a symbol of fluctuations in the global technological order.
In the context of the increasingly fierce AI race, building a legal framework and international ethical standards is necessary to ensure that technology will be developed sustainably and benefit all of humanity. The future of AI will depend on how nations, businesses and the global community cooperate, monitor and guide the development of technology towards the common good.
DeepSeek AI, with all its advantages and limitations, is a mirror of a changing era – where technology is not only changing the world but also determining power and shaping the future of humanity.