DeepSeek Deep Dive: What Role Did the Chinese Government Play?

DeepSeek is a product of the Chinese security state. Here's how...

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In the final week of January, a practically unknown Chinese startup did the previously unthinkable, announcing a language-learning artificial intelligence model to compete with Western models at a fraction of the cost. The timing was fortuitous, coinciding with the inaugural week of President Donald Trump's second term, the new administration's announcement of a $500 billion AI infrastructure plan, and the start of Chinese New Year festivities. It was also likely no coincidence, with evidence pointing to extensive involvement from Chinese state and military institutions. I am long past the days when I would willingly download Chinese software on my phone, but by most accounts, the thing works well, outperforming OpenAI's ChatGPT on several metrics.

I've taken extra time putting my thoughts together on this one. Having lived in China and seen its tech industry up close, I've gained valuable insights into how the sector works. I will put something together on DeepSeek's technical capabilities in the future, especially as further details arise. However, this article is about the forces that brought DeepSeek into being, specifically the Chinese government's role.