Chinese state-affiliated social media accounts amplified the successful launch of DeepSeek’s AI models, emphasizing a challenge to U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence, according to a report by Graphika. This online campaign coincided with a significant drop in U.S. tech stocks, raising concerns about the escalating competition in the AI sector.
Graphika’s analysis revealed a coordinated effort involving Chinese diplomats, embassies, and state media to promote DeepSeek’s AI advancements across various platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and Chinese platforms like Toutiao and Weibo. The narrative highlighted DeepSeek’s capabilities and positioned China as surpassing the U.S. in AI development.
“This demonstrates China’s ability to rapidly deploy online narratives portraying Beijing as a leader in crucial geopolitical areas, including AI,” stated Jack Stubbs, Chief Intelligence Officer at Graphika. He further emphasized the consistent observation of Chinese state-linked actors utilizing AI to expand their influence online.
Graphika also identified a YouTube video with pro-China, anti-Western content on a channel exhibiting similarities to Shadow Play, a previously identified coordinated influence campaign. This discovery raises further questions about the extent of online information operations.
Following DeepSeek’s model release on January 20th, discussions comparing DeepSeek’s AI assistant to OpenAI’s ChatGPT surged on X. A more substantial increase in online activity began on Friday and persisted through the weekend, coinciding with DeepSeek’s free AI assistant surpassing ChatGPT in downloads on Apple’s app store. By Monday, global investors reacted, leading to a significant sell-off of U.S. tech stocks, including a record one-day loss for Nvidia.
DeepSeek’s researchers assert that their AI model was developed at a significantly lower cost than those of U.S. competitors, raising concerns about potential price wars in the AI industry. This development comes as major U.S. tech companies, including Microsoft and Meta, have committed to substantial ongoing investments in AI.
DeepSeek’s success has been hailed in China as a victory against perceived U.S. attempts to contain China’s technological advancement through export restrictions. However, in the U.S., allegations have surfaced regarding DeepSeek’s potential unauthorized access to technology from leading AI companies like OpenAI, although these claims remain unsubstantiated. Furthermore, the U.S. Commerce Department is investigating DeepSeek’s potential use of U.S. chips subject to export controls.
In conclusion, the coordinated online campaign surrounding DeepSeek’s AI launch highlights the strategic use of information operations in the global tech competition. The subsequent market reaction underscores the significant economic implications of advancements in artificial intelligence and the intensifying rivalry between the U.S. and China in this critical sector. The ongoing investigations and allegations surrounding DeepSeek’s practices further emphasize the complex geopolitical landscape of AI development.
