DeepSeek's Rise Raises Global Concerns Over AI and Political Discourse
The global chatbot landscape has seen a significant shift with the rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI tool that has swiftly become the world's second most popular chatbot with 647.6 million users. However, its rapid growth has sparked concerns about the potential global propagation of Beijing's tight control of political discourse.
DeepSeek's ascent is particularly concerning given the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) shift in discourse control methods. Instead of direct censorship, the CCP now encourages self-censorship. DeepSeek, developed by a Chinese AI firm based in Hangzhou, is argued to be a product of this strategy rather than a tool of direct censorship.
The chatbot must comply with Chinese legislation that prohibits AI from generating content that 'damages the unity of the country and social harmony'. This compliance results in DeepSeek 'censoring' its answers by deleting them if they discuss sensitive topics like Taiwanese sovereignty or Tiananmen Square. The Australian government has identified DeepSeek as a threat to national security, and even former U.S. President Trump cautioned about its implications.
AI technologies, including DeepSeek and ChatGPT, are increasingly serving as co-authors of societal norms around free discourse in both China and the West. However, DeepSeek's production cost is a fraction of that of American AI tools, raising fears that it could overtake ChatGPT as the world's favored AI assistant. This has led to calls for a fundamental rethink of political thought, as argued by Jane Bennet, regarding how non-human actors like AI can shape our political communities.
DeepSeek's popularity and potential global influence are cause for concern, given its roots in China's political environment and the potential for global propagation of its self-censorship. As AI technologies continue to shape societal norms, it is crucial for policymakers and users alike to remain vigilant and engaged in the conversation about the role of AI in political discourse.
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