When ChatGPT burst onto the artificial intelligence (AI) scene, it raised a key question: did this signal a challenge for China, America's foremost tech rival?
Two years later, a new AI model from China has flipped the script: can the US hinder Chinese innovation?
Initially, Beijing seemed unsure how to respond to ChatGPT, as it wasn't available in China.
Disappointed users ridiculed Ernie, the Baidu search engine's chatbot. Subsequent versions by Tencent and ByteDance were seen as imitations of ChatGPT, albeit not as effective.
To maintain its lead, Washington increased restrictions by prohibiting the export of cutting-edge chips and technology to China.
The launch of DeepSeek has astounded Silicon Valley and the world. The company claims its potent model is significantly more cost-effective compared to the billions US firms have poured into AI.
So, how did a relatively obscure company manage this feat, making its founder a hero on Chinese social media as an "AI hero"?
When the US prohibited leading chip manufacturers such as Nvidia from selling advanced technology to China, it dealt a significant blow.
These chips are vital for developing powerful AI models that can handle a spectrum of tasks, from basic queries to complex math puzzles.
The founder of DeepSeek, Liang Wenfeng, referred to the chip ban as their primary challenge in interviews with local media.
Even prior to the ban, DeepSeek had amassed a substantial supply of Nvidia A100 chips, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 50,000, as reported by the MIT Technology Review.
While Western AI models typically use around 16,000 specialized chips, DeepSeek claims it trained its AI model with just 2,000 such chips, along with numerous lower-grade chips, which contributes to its cost efficiency.
Despite skepticism from some, like US tech mogul Elon Musk, who question the actual usage of advanced chips due to restrictions, experts suggest that Washington's ban has spurred innovation in the Chinese AI sector.
The ban has compelled Chinese companies like DeepSeek to innovate with limited resources, fostering creativity and resilience in line with China's objective of technological self-sufficiency.
China, the second-largest global economy, has heavily invested in major tech sectors, striving to establish itself as a tech powerhouse, in line with President Xi Jinping's vision. Washington's restrictions posed a challenge that Beijing embraced.
The timing of DeepSeek's model release on January 20, coinciding with Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, was intentional, aiming to convey a message that export controls are ineffective and that America is not the supreme leader in AI, as highlighted by experts.