The Chinese AI chatbot “DeepSeek” has stirred significant debate in recent weeks. Launched in 2023, it gained traction following the release of the “R1” model, which matches its competitors in performance while being more resource-efficient. Nevertheless, DeepSeek could potentially face a ban in the US, leading to fines and possible imprisonment for users.
The US might ban the Chinese AI DeepSeek
This is the aim of Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who has submitted a new bill this week. The legislation seeks to “prevent United States persons from enhancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People’s Republic of China, and for other individuals.”
According to The Independent, the proposed regulation indicates that those who violate these restrictions could face fines up to $1 million and imprisonment for as long as 20 years. For companies caught using Chinese AI, penalties might soar to $100 million. While the senator does not explicitly name DeepSeek in his legislation, the timing of the bill coincides with the chatbot reaching the top spot on the US App Store.
The primary rationale behind banning Chinese AIs includes concerns regarding “security, privacy, and ethics.” Some critics also point out that DeepSeek refrains from addressing inquiries about the Chinese Communist Party. Italy has already taken the lead by prohibiting DeepSeek over privacy concerns, with other nations potentially following suit.
Within the US, Texas has already instituted a ban on DeepSeek for use on government devices. Former President Donald Trump has described the Chinese chatbot as a “wake-up call” for the national technology sector and has reportedly investigated its implications for national security.
Following DeepSeek’s notable success, stock prices of tech firms such as Nvidia have seen a decline. However, the chatbot’s exceptional performance cannot be overlooked. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently stated that “innovation that drives efficiency is a good thing” when discussing the topic of Chinese AI.
Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash.
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