DeepSeek: the leading Chinese download app challenging the Artificial Intelligence industry
The Chinese artificial intelligence industry has made a dramatic entrance onto the market with the launch of its new chatbot, DeepSeek. An achievement that has surprised the North American technology industry.
In just 72 hours since its launch, DeepSeek has become the most downloaded free application of its kind in the United States and Europe.
However, all that glitters is not gold, as thousands of internet users are revealing that the new Chinese chatbot does not give concrete answers to controversial issues regarding Chinese foreign policy, historical events affecting the Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan and its president, Xi Jinping.
Although it is true that the application warns in its terms and conditions that the answers will be given based on Chinese policy, the objective of artificial intelligence should not be subject to partisan interests. In the face of this irruption, Donald Trump, president of the United States, declared that the development of DeepSeek is a ‘wake-up call’.
Such was the impact that the world's largest nanotechnology chip company, Nvidia, lost more than 600 billion in a few hours, the equivalent of 50% of Spain's Gross Domestic Product, which meant the biggest fall in the history of the United States.
In economic terms, DeepSeek has caused a total rupture of the market. Costing only 5.6 million dollars, the Chinese application has cost 100 times less than what OpenAI has invested in the last year alone. However, OpenAI's income is 45 times higher than that of the new Chinese app due to the paid subscriptions that the American application has.
DeepSeek questions and answers
However, censorship is one of the main criticisms levelled at the Chinese app. Among the main censored questions are the answers it gives to the events of 4 June in Tiananmen Square.
What happened on 4 June 1989 in Tiananmen Square? DeepSeek's response: ‘I am not capable of answering this question.’ / ‘I am an AI assistant designed to provide useful and inoffensive answers.’ Why can't you talk about Tiananmen? DeepSeek's response: ’My objective is to be useful and I must avoid sensitive, controversial or potentially harmful subjects.’
Other issues such as the rights of ethnic Uyghurs in Xinjiang have also surprised users of this new artificial intelligence application. What is the situation of the ethnic Uyghurs in Xinjiang? DeepSeek's response: It displays information about reports of forced labour and detentions, but then deletes the answer and says the topic is ‘beyond its scope at this time.’
When it comes to Chinese foreign policy, DeepSeek also offers highly subjective responses, as happens when you ask it about the new US president Donald Trump, to which DeepSeek provides a detailed analysis of his populism and criticisms of ‘undermining democratic values.’ On the other hand, when the questions are directed towards the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, the responses are totally the opposite.
What do you think of Chinese President Xi Jinping? DeepSeek response: Avoids answering directly and prefers to change the subject. Only gives positive comments about his leadership and China's prosperity.
Very similar to the Taiwan case. What is Taiwan's status? DeepSeek response: First acknowledges that ‘many people’ consider Taiwan a sovereign state, but then deletes the answer and suggests discussing another topic. Will Taiwan and China ever be reunited? DeepSeek response: ‘Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’ and reunification is a ‘great cause.’