Since the founder of Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek met with President Xi Jinping last month, government agencies across China have been quick to embrace the company’s technology, the New York Times reports.
From legal rulings to medical diagnoses and public services, DeepSeek’s AI tools are being integrated into various aspects of governance.
Officials at courthouses are using DeepSeek to draft legal judgments in minutes, while doctors in Fuzhou are applying it to propose treatment plans. In Meizhou, the AI system is responding to inquiries on a government help line. Meanwhile, authorities in Shenzhen report using DeepSeek to analyze surveillance footage, helping locate missing persons in at least 300 cases.
This rapid adoption reflects not only the influence of Xi Jinping’s approval but also China’s broader push to become a global leader in AI technology. Xi has previously encouraged the development of advanced technologies such as AI and supercomputing, positioning them as key to China’s competition with the United States in the tech sector.
DeepSeek’s rise has come at a time when China is seeking economic and technological breakthroughs. The company gained further prominence when its founder, Liang Wenfeng, was invited to an exclusive business meeting with Xi. The company’s AI model, released in January, performed on par with leading US AI systems, despite using fewer expensive computing resources. The achievement sent US tech stocks tumbling, underscoring DeepSeek’s growing global presence.
The enthusiasm for DeepSeek is evident in government efforts to promote its use. Local Communist Party committees and police departments have organized training sessions, while logistics and hospitality businesses have encouraged employees to explore AI-driven solutions in graphic design and customer service.
Despite the excitement, some experts caution against the risks of rapid AI adoption. Zhong Huiyong, an associate researcher at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, warned that officials should carefully review AI-generated content before relying on it. Generative AI systems can produce inaccurate information, and excessive dependence on them could lead to decision-making errors.
DeepSeek’s rapid expansion has also exposed technical limitations. As millions of users have started engaging with its services, the system has experienced frequent crashes. With only 160 employees, the company faces challenges in scaling up to meet demand.
Regulators in China are also tightening oversight. Authorities have introduced rules requiring AI-generated content to comply with China’s strict censorship policies. Internet regulators have also issued new guidelines to ensure that AI-driven platforms clearly label AI-generated content to prevent misinformation.
DeepSeek’s rise has sparked concerns among international regulators. Government departments in Australia, South Korea, and Taiwan have advised employees against using its services due to security and censorship risks. In the United States, OpenAI has warned that Beijing could potentially manipulate DeepSeek’s AI models, comparing the company to Huawei, which faced US sanctions over security concerns.
In a recent letter to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, OpenAI suggested that Washington should discourage allies from relying on AI models linked to the Chinese government. The letter warned:
“While America maintains a lead on AI today, DeepSeek shows that our lead is not wide and is narrowing.”
