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In the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence, Chinese startup DeepSeek has quickly risen to fame, outperforming competitors and sparking discussions about the benefits of open-source software. However, concerns about security have led to bans on the use of DeepSeek by both private and government organizations.
Founded by Liang Wenfeng in May 2023, DeepSeek has disrupted the AI industry with its open-source approach, funded solely by the High-Flyer hedge fund run by Wenfeng. The company made headlines with the release of its R1 reasoning model, surpassing OpenAI’s o1 model. Additionally, DeepSeek’s AI assistant, powered by the V3 model, became the most downloaded free app in the App Store.
Despite its success, DeepSeek faces scrutiny over security issues, prompting organizations to restrict its use. Concerns have been raised about the company’s ties to the Chinese government, data privacy issues, and potential censorship embedded in its models. However, platforms like Perplexity offer uncensored, US-based versions of DeepSeek to address these concerns.
While DeepSeek’s open-source approach allows for transparency in its models, concerns about data privacy and security flaws have been raised by experts. The company’s privacy policy raises red flags regarding the collection and storage of user data, particularly in the People’s Republic of China.
In light of recent security breaches and data vulnerabilities, questions have been raised about DeepSeek’s commitment to safety and governance. Despite the potential risks associated with advanced AI technologies, the race to build stronger AI continues unabated, leaving little time to address the ethical and societal implications of these advancements.