DeepSeek, the rapidly expanding Chinese AI platform, has taken the global market by storm. Major companies like Huawei, Honor, Microsoft, and even automakers have integrated its R1 model into their products and services. The AI-powered DeepSeek app has gained significant popularity in the United States, swiftly topping the Apple App Store charts.

However, Arm CEO Rene Haas recently expressed concerns in an interview with the Financial Times, suggesting that DeepSeek might face regulatory challenges due to its Chinese origins. Haas believes that ongoing foreign policy tensions could force the platform to cease its operations in the US, drawing comparisons to the scrutiny faced by TikTok.

Haas noted that the recent developments concerning TikTok, owned by ByteDance, could set a precedent for DeepSeek. The US government has been pressuring TikTok to separate its American operations from its Chinese parent company or face a potential ban. This uncertainty extends to other Chinese tech companies, including DeepSeek, which could encounter similar restrictions.

Unlike TikTok, DeepSeek does not have direct operations in the United States. The DeepSeek R1 AI model is open-source, allowing users to download and run the model independently on their devices. This aspect could make a complete ban more difficult to enforce compared to TikTok, which relies on centralized servers.

As US-China tensions continue to influence technology regulations, the future of DeepSeek in the US remains uncertain. Government actions targeting the AI platform could significantly impact its availability and usage. Nevertheless, its open-source nature might offer a workaround for users who wish to continue using the AI model.
Image by Reuters Institute