DeepSeek AI, a Chinese-developed artificial intelligence tool, has been making a lot of headlines recently, first, for disrupting the AI community with a strong competitor for OpenAI, the current leader in the field, and next because of the restrictions and possible ban that might prevent many of us from giving it a try. Let’s take a closer look to see what the problems are.
What is DeepSeek AI?
DeepSeek AI is a new artificial intelligence model developed by Liang Wenfeng. He started the Chinese startup before he reached 40 and designed the DeepSeek model to rival popular AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Built with advanced natural language processing (NLP) capabilities, it can generate human-like text, answer complex questions, and even perform tasks like coding assistance and content creation, much like the other popular models.
However, what’s getting DeepSeek so much attention isn’t only its capabilities; there is some controversy surrounding its origins and data policies. Unlike U.S.-based AI models that operate under American regulations, DeepSeek must follow China’s strict cybersecurity and censorship laws, which can affect the responses it gives. Furthermore, its data collection practices raise red flags among privacy advocates and security experts worldwide.
Is DeepSeek AI legal?
As of February 4, 2025, you can still download and use the DeepSeek AI in the United States for personal use, though many experts advise against it. However, things are different if you are a government employee in certain areas.
Texas has become the first state to ban the use of DeepSeek on government-issued devices, citing potential data security risks and the possibility of Chinese government influence over critical state infrastructure.
The U.S. Navy has officially prohibited its members from using DeepSeek, expressing concerns over security and ethical implications. Experts fear that the app could store sensitive user data that is accessible to the Chinese government, posing national security threats.
Some countries outside the U.S., including Australia, Italy, and Taiwan, are also taking steps to ban the platform.
Proposed legislation against users of DeepSeek AI
A newly proposed law could result in significant fines or even jail time for individuals in the U.S. who use the Chinese AI app DeepSeek. Some insiders suggest that the fine could be up to a million dollars and that jail time should reach 20 years.
While it’s unlikely that such a proposal will become law, especially for private individuals, it’s certainly something you’ll want to keep an eye on if you use the app as part of your toolset.
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