US officials are currently assessing the national security implications of a significant artificial intelligence (AI) advance by Chinese company DeepSeek, as reported by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
This evaluation follows reports that the US Navy has forbidden its personnel from using DeepSeek's apps due to "potential security and ethical concerns."
Concurrently, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has pledged cooperation with the US government to safeguard its technology from competitors.
DeepSeek's groundbreaking yet cost-effective AI model recently caused turmoil in US tech stocks. Investors questioned the substantial investment in new AI infrastructure by US technology firms.
Speaking about the situation, Ms. Leavitt mentioned, "I spoke with [the National Security Council] this morning, they are looking into what [the national security implications] may be." She also reiterated US President Donald Trump's remarks that DeepSeek should be a wake-up call for the US tech industry.
Recent warnings from CNBC state that the US Navy has informed its staff not to utilize the DeepSeek app due to "potential security and ethical concerns regarding the model's origin and use." The Navy has not responded immediately to requests for comment from BBC News.
David Sacks, the recently appointed "White House AI and crypto czar," suggested on Fox News that DeepSeek could have utilized models developed by top US company OpenAI to enhance its own capabilities through knowledge distillation.
OpenAI supported this notion in a subsequent statement, emphasizing the need for closer collaboration with the U.S. government to protect intellectual property from entities attempting to copy leading AI models.
DeepSeek has reported being targeted by cyber attacks, forcing temporary registration limitations, as mentioned on their website. A Chinese state broadcaster claimed DeepSeek has faced multiple cyber attacks recently, escalating in intensity.
DeepSeek's rapid emergence garnered attention from AI enthusiasts, leading to a surge in downloads of its chatbot and a subsequent dip in US tech stocks, which have partially recovered.
Nevertheless, the revelation of DeepSeek's advances has unsettled the AI industry, challenging the belief that the US held a significant lead. Trade restrictions aimed at limiting China's access to high-end chips had reinforced this perception.
Despite China's efforts to boost advanced tech investments, DeepSeek is not among the prominent Chinese firms aiming to rival US-made ChatGPT with advanced AI models.
Experts remain uncertain about DeepSeek's model development process and potential impact, highlighting the US advantage in chip technology. President Trump viewed the DeepSeek development as a "wake-up call" for the US tech sector, expressing optimism about its potential benefits for US competitiveness in AI.