Since debuting in late 2024, DeepSeek has been rattling the global AI landscape in a way not spurred by its competitors. For one, the flagship model, DeepSeek R1, was launched in late 2024 and quickly gained attention for its performance and accessibility. Trained at a cost of $5.6 million USD according to the company (though this is now a topic of scrutiny), which is substantially lower than the $100 million USD reportedly spent on comparable models like OpenAI’s GPT-4. As such, DeepSeek R1 matched its peers in performance while utilizing only a fraction of the computational resources.
Founded in May 2023 by hedge fund entrepreneur Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek’s breakthrough not only showcased its technical prowess but also highlighted China’s growing capabilities in AI development, challenging Western dominance in the field. The open-source nature of DeepSeek’s models has further accelerated their adoption, so developers worldwide can integrate advanced AI functionalities into their applications without prohibitive costs.
Companies Integrating DeepSeek
Till date, several major technology companies have begun integrating DeepSeek into their products, enhancing their AI capabilities.
BYD
The EV manufacturer is incorporating DeepSeek’s AI into its smart vehicle systems, improving voice recognition and autonomous driving features. By leveraging DeepSeek’s AI, BYD hopes to enhance user experience in its vehicles to facilitate more natural interactions and better predictive analytics for navigation and vehicle diagnostics.
Baidu
Baidu has integrated DeepSeek into its search and cloud services, leveraging its capabilities to enhance AI-driven search algorithms and chatbot interactions. This integration helps Baidu refine its search relevance and improve natural language understanding in its AI assistants, in turn making them more responsive and contextually aware.
NetEase Games
The gaming and internet services giant is using DeepSeek to improve in-game AI, content moderation, and personalized user experiences across its platforms. DeepSeek’s AI allows for more dynamic, realistic non-playable characters (NPCs) in games, while also improving automated monitoring systems to ensure a safer online community.
Tencent
On top of trialling its own AI model, Tencent is also embedding DeepSeek into its cloud services, gaming platforms, and social media products to optimize AI-driven recommendations and chat functionalities. The goal is to make its platforms more interactive and efficient; from improving user engagement through intelligent content suggestions to seamless customer service.
Microsoft
In a surprise move, Microsoft has integrated DeepSeek R1 into its Azure AI Foundry, a centralized platform for enterprises to utilize and build their AI technologies. The decision comes after the tech giant’s plan to reduce its dependence on OpenAI.
Geely
The automotive company has partnered with DeepSeek to enhance its smart car AI capabilities, integrating advanced AI functionalities into its vehicles. In January, pilot testing began for the integration, starting with its Xingrui car control FunctionCall AI.
Limits to DeepSeek’s Integration
Despite its growing adoption, there are regions where DeepSeek’s integration faces significant barriers.
South Korea
Due to concerns surrounding data security and foreign AI influence, DeepSeek’s expansion into South Korea has been halted. The South Korean government has implemented stringent policies to regulate foreign AI models, citing risks related to user data protection and potential political influences embedded in AI responses. It also said that the software will only be available to the public after proper compliance measures are set in place.
USA
The US federal government, through bipartisan legislative efforts and executive actions, has moved to restrict DeepSeek’s AI applications due to national security concerns, including proposed bans on federal devices. Several states, including New York and Virginia, have independently banned DeepSeek from government networks, while Texas has launched an investigation into its privacy practices and potential foreign ties. These measures reflect a broader effort to mitigate risks associated with foreign AI models, aligning with heightened scrutiny over Chinese technology in sensitive sectors.
Australia
In similar fashion, the Australian government banned DeepSeek from all federal devices, citing national security concerns over data privacy and potential exposure to malware. This decision aligns with similar actions taken by other countries and has prompted criticism from China, which views the ban as a politicized move against its technology. Following the federal directive, most Australian states and territories, including Queensland and Western Australia have also prohibited DeepSeek on government devices.
Tough Waters Ahead
In a technological-forward world inundated by AI capabilities, DeepSeek’s emergence has significantly impacted the landscape. By offering accessible and efficient models that challenge established players and integrating with major tech companies, its influence is undoubtedly growing at an impressively fast pace –– but challenges remain in penetrating certain global markets due to regulatory and security concerns as well as geopolitical issues.
As DeepSeek expands its reach and influence, we’re expecting a stream of updates and news to pour in as the days go by. Keep following us as we continue to cover the what and who of the ever-changing AI industry.
Banner image via SC Media.
