DeepSeek, a generative AI application from China, has recently surged to prominence, surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the top downloaded free app last week. This unexpected ascent has raised eyebrows among AI experts and national security professionals alike, who are now grappling with the implications of this rapidly evolving technology landscape.
The app's creators leveraged an open-source technology approach, which indicates that more iterations of DeepSeek may soon emerge. However, despite its impressive downloads, DeepSeek has a long way to go to match the user engagement of ChatGPT, which continues to command an average daily visit count in the tens of millions. OpenAI's platform remains a formidable competitor, raising significant funds and expanding its capabilities.
DeepSeek's success caught many in the tech community off guard, leading to skepticism surrounding its claims. Some estimates suggest that the Chinese company may have understated its operational costs by hundreds of millions of dollars. This revelation fuels ongoing discussions about the viability and sustainability of DeepSeek in a competitive market.
As concerns mount over DeepSeek's potential impact, experts highlight the broader implications for national security. The app operates under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China (PRC) laws, meaning that any data entered into the application is vulnerable to governmental scrutiny. In addition, cybersecurity firms have identified vulnerabilities within DeepSeek that could allow for significant data leaks.
Reports indicate that DeepSeek can track users across devices through keystroke patterns and collect data from advertisers. It has even been suggested that the app could leverage cameras and microphones, raising alarm bells among privacy advocates. The amount of data potentially accessible to malicious actors in China is estimated to be 20 times greater than what could be harvested from a standard Google search.
Experts have criticized DeepSeek's privacy policy, with one national security analyst declaring it "isn't worth the paper it is written on." These concerns highlight the need for stricter export controls on advanced chips intended to curtail Chinese AI advancements. The rapid development of DeepSeek may necessitate a reevaluation of existing regulations to better protect sensitive information.
The geopolitical ramifications of DeepSeek's rise are significant. National security professionals are increasingly viewing the app through the lens of competition between the United States and China. Concerns about potential malware injections and the broader implications for digital security underscore the urgent need for vigilance in this domain.
Joe Jones, an expert in governance and technology, articulated the complexity involved in navigating this evolving landscape. He stated, "It is challenging for people to do that work when you have proliferating laws that are complex, diverse, and often in tension, and technologies like DeepSeek that come at you from left field, upend status quos and make you rethink good governance." He further noted that "this has gotten a whole lot more complex in this turbocharged geopolitical environment."
Brendan Englot added to this discussion by emphasizing the global nature of AI competition. "AI is now a global international competition, and we will see breakthroughs all over the world," he remarked. He also stated that disruptions similar to DeepSeek's emergence are likely to continue in the near future.
Despite the concerns surrounding DeepSeek, some voices advocate for a measured perspective on its impact. McNeal pointed out that while there are legitimate risks associated with sharing data, "the world won't end tomorrow because I logged into DeepSeek." However, he acknowledged that "national security professionals are thinking about it in those terms."
Dario Amodei stressed that while innovations like DeepSeek present challenges, they do not provide an escape from global competition. "To be clear, they're not a way to duck the competition between the US and China," he stated.
DeepSeek's recent cyberattack adds another layer of complexity to its narrative. The implications of this incident could further influence public perception and regulatory responses to the application.