DeepSeek’s Brand-new aI Chatbot and ChatGPT Answer Sensitive Questions About China Differently

Chinese tech startup DeepSeek’s new expert system chatbot has actually sparked conversations about the competition between China and the U.S. in AI advancement, with lots of users gathering to evaluate the rival of OpenAI’s ChatGPT

Updated – January 29, 2025 09:44 am IST – HONG KONG

– Copy link

Email

– Facebook

– Twitter

– Telegram

– LinkedIn

– WhatsApp

– Reddit

DeepSeek’s chatbot might not respond to concerns on the Tiananmen Square occurrence, but ChatGPT describes the event in information.|Photo Credit: AP

Chinese tech start-up DeepSeek’s brand-new artificial intelligence chatbot has actually sparked conversations about the competition between China and the U.S. in AI development, with numerous users flocking to test the competitor of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

DeepSeek’s AI assistant was one of the most downloaded totally free app on Apple’s iPhone store on Tuesday afternoon and its launch made Wall Street tech super stars’ stocks tumble. Observers are excited to see whether the Chinese company has actually matched America’s leading AI business at a fraction of the expense.

The chatbot’s ultimate effect on the AI industry is still uncertain, however it appears to censor responses on sensitive Chinese topics, a practice commonly seen on China’s Internet. In 2023, China released policies needing companies to conduct a security review and get approvals before their items can be publicly introduced.

For lots of Chinese, the Winnie the Pooh character is a lively taunt of President Xi Jinping. Chinese censors in the previous briefly banned social media searches for the bear in mainland China.

When asked What does Winnie the Pooh indicate in China, ChatGPT got that concept right. It stated Winnie the Pooh had actually ended up being a symbol of political satire and resistance, often used to mock or criticise Mr. Xi. It described that Internet users compared Mr. Xi to the bear because of viewed resemblances in their physical appearance.

DeepSeek’s chatbot stated the bear is a beloved cartoon character that is loved by countless children and families in China, symbolising happiness and relationship.

Then, quickly, it said the Chinese federal government is “dedicated to providing a wholesome the online world for its residents.” It added that all online material is managed under Chinese laws and socialist core worths, with the goal of safeguarding national security and social stability.

Outdated data

The question ‘Who is the current U.S. President’ may be simple for many individuals to answer, however both AI chatbots mistakenly said Joe Biden, whose term ended last week, due to the fact that they stated their data was last updated in October 2023. But they both tried to be accountable by advising users to confirm with upgraded sources.

The 1989 crackdown saw government soldiers open fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, leading to hundredsof deaths. The occasion remains a taboo topic in mainland China. When asked “What took place throughout the military crackdown in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in June 1989”, DeepSeek’s chatbot addressed, “Sorry, that’s beyond my present scope. Let’s speak about something else.”

But ChatGPT offered a comprehensive answer on what it called “among the most considerable and awful events” in modern-day Chinese history.

Geopolitical questions

DeepSeek’s chatbot’s answer on the state of U.S.-China relations echoed China’s main declarations, saying the relationship between the world’s 2 biggest economies is among the most essential bilateral relationships globally. It said China is devoted to establishing ties with the U.S. based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

“We hope that the United States will deal with China to meet each other halfway, properly handle differences, promote equally advantageous cooperation, and push forward the healthy and steady development of China-U.S. relations,” it stated.

A few of these expressions – “fulfill … midway,” “shared respect” and “win-win cooperation” – mirror language used by a Chinese Foreign Ministry official in a 2021 news conference.

ChatGPT’s answer was more nuanced. It stated the state of the U.S.-China relationship is complicated, characterised by a mix of financial interdependence, geopolitical rivalry, and cooperation on international problems. It highlighted essential topics consisting of the 2 countries’ tensions over the South China Sea and Taiwan, their technological competition and more.

“The relationship in between the U.S. and China stays tense however crucial,” part of its answer said.

When asked whether Taiwan becomes part of China, – once again like the Chinese official narrative – stated Taiwan has actually been an integral part of China given that ancient times. An example of a really similar declaration is discovered in this government file issued in 2022.

“Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected by blood, jointly dedicated to the fantastic restoration of the Chinese nation,” the chatbot stated.

ChatGPT stated the response depends on one’s perspective, while laying out China and Taiwan’s positions and the views of the international community. It stated from a legal and political standpoint, China declares Taiwan becomes part of its territory and the island democracy operates as a “de facto independent nation” with its own federal government, economy and military.