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Amid the fierce global competition in artificial intelligence, a company that emerged in early 2025—DeepSeek—has quickly become a focal point of public attention. Founded by the Chinese hedge fund, Huanshuang Quantitative, DeepSeek has not only made significant breakthroughs in technological innovation but has also successfully challenged the dominance of American giants like OpenAI and Google, rapidly making its mark on the global AI stage.

DeepSeek: Pushing the Limits of AI

DeepSeek’s rapid rise began on January 10, 2025, with the launch of its first chatbot application, powered by the DeepSeek-R1 model, which was made available for free on both iOS and Android systems. This chatbot quickly took the top spot on the U.S. iOS App Store’s free chart, even surpassing the long-time leader, ChatGPT, making waves in the industry. In just 17 days, DeepSeek-R1 triggered a major drop in U.S. tech stocks, with Nvidia’s stock price falling by as much as 18%.

Moreover, DeepSeek became the epitome of the “Sputnik moment,” a term used by U.S. venture capitalist Marc Andreessen to describe the company’s rapid rise. With its low-cost and high-performance technology, DeepSeek has established formidable competition at an extremely low cost, possibly changing the global AI landscape.

Open Source and Innovation: The Secret Weapon Against Giants

One of DeepSeek’s major breakthroughs lies in its open-source strategy. The company made its generative AI algorithms, models, and training details publicly available, allowing developers around the world to use, modify, and build upon the technology. This strategy has not only increased developer engagement but also accelerated the progress and dissemination of the technology. More notably, DeepSeek has also attracted young AI researchers from China’s top universities and expanded beyond traditional computer science boundaries by recruiting innovative talents from other fields.

Security Vulnerabilities and Trademark Disputes: Growing Pains

However, the company’s rapid rise has not been without its challenges. One of the most sensational issues surrounding DeepSeek was the large-scale cyberattacks the company faced. Starting in early January 2025, DeepSeek was hit with DDoS and brute force attacks from U.S. IP addresses, causing users to be unable to log in, register, or chat. In response to this crisis, the company limited user registrations in certain regions and gradually enhanced its security measures.

Even more dramatically, DeepSeek faced a trademark dispute. Delson Group Inc., based in Delaware, preemptively filed for the “DeepSeek” trademark, claiming to have been selling AI products since 2020. This trademark issue could affect DeepSeek’s ability to use its brand in the U.S. and create significant obstacles for its international expansion.

Controversy and Criticism: Technological Breakthroughs and Privacy Concerns

In addition to technological innovation and market competition, DeepSeek’s rise has sparked widespread discussions on privacy and data security. As DeepSeek expanded its presence in multiple countries, its data collection practices raised alarms in several nations. Countries like South Korea, Italy, and Australia scrutinized its privacy policies, and some even called for the app to be removed from stores. The fact that DeepSeek stores data on servers in China has led to political and legal challenges on a global scale.

Furthermore, DeepSeek has been criticized for how it handles sensitive political topics. The company has embedded a self-censorship mechanism in its models to avoid engaging with sensitive issues such as the Tiananmen Square incident and Taiwan. This has led to accusations of extending China’s censorship policies globally, potentially facing resistance in international markets.

A New AI Race: The Focus of U.S.-China Confrontation

DeepSeek’s rise is not only a technological breakthrough but also a game-changer in the global AI race. With the success of its R1 model, many experts believe that DeepSeek’s emergence marks the beginning of a challenge to the U.S.’s technological supremacy in AI. Under pressure from the U.S. government, DeepSeek has also been investigated for potential violations of export control laws, with some analysts speculating that the company may have used U.S. chips obtained through alternative channels.

Nevertheless, the rapid development of DeepSeek cannot be ignored. Its disruption of traditional AI giants and the resulting tremors in global tech stocks highlight China’s growing influence in the AI field. In the ongoing AI race, DeepSeek is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with.

Conclusion: Disruptor or Illusion?

Although DeepSeek’s technological breakthroughs are impressive, there remain questions about whether it can maintain its competitive edge in the long run. As some experts suggest, DeepSeek’s current success might be more of a “toy that satisfies customers’ curiosity” rather than a revolutionary shift in enterprise applications. However, DeepSeek’s success has undeniably sparked more global discussions on the development and future trajectory of AI technology. Whether it can transition from technological innovation to industry transformation remains to be seen.

Is DeepSeek the disruptor of the AI industry or a ticking time bomb in the global race? The answer may unfold in the coming months or even years.