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DeepSeek cracks the 'high walls and small courtyards'

First Voice

 , Updated 14:26, 28-Jan-2025

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DeepSeek cracks the 'high walls and small courtyards'

Editor's note: CGTN's First Voice provides instant commentary on breaking stories. The column clarifies emerging issues and better defines the news agenda, offering a Chinese perspective on the latest global events. 

The recent success of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has sent shockwaves through the global AI landscape. By topping both Chinese and U.S. app store charts, DeepSeek has not only demonstrated China's rapidly advancing AI capabilities but also challenged U.S. efforts to maintain a technological lead through isolationist policies.

International media outlets have widely acknowledged DeepSeek's significant achievements. The Financial Times highlighted its success as evidence of China's growing AI innovation, while Business Insider emphasized the company's progress in catching up with leading U.S. AI labs. Forbes further underscored the impact of DeepSeek's open-source R1 model, a powerful research tool accessible globally. Taken together, these reports affirm DeepSeek's strength and innovation while also indirectly exposing the limitations of the U.S.'s "walled garden" strategy to restrict China's access to advanced technologies.

The U.S., leveraging its early lead in AI, has attempted to maintain dominance through technological isolation – imposing restrictions on technology transfer and talent mobility. This so-called "high walls and small courtyards" strategy, however, is proving ineffective. DeepSeek's progress driven by open-source principles, has revealed the shortcomings of this approach. Its rise underscores the increasing global competitiveness in AI, directly challenging the market dominance of U.S. tech giants. As a result, the notion of maintaining AI leadership through isolationist tactics appears increasingly outdated.

A television broadcasts DeepSeek news at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, U.S., January 27, 2025. Anxiety about China's DeepSeek caused a sharp selloff in U.S. tech stocks and major indexes Monday morning as investors raised alarms about concentration risk in tech stocks ahead of mega-cap earnings this week. /CFP
A television broadcasts DeepSeek news at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, U.S., January 27, 2025. Anxiety about China's DeepSeek caused a sharp selloff in U.S. tech stocks and major indexes Monday morning as investors raised alarms about concentration risk in tech stocks ahead of mega-cap earnings this week. /CFP

A television broadcasts DeepSeek news at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, U.S., January 27, 2025. Anxiety about China's DeepSeek caused a sharp selloff in U.S. tech stocks and major indexes Monday morning as investors raised alarms about concentration risk in tech stocks ahead of mega-cap earnings this week. /CFP

The advancement of AI necessitates global collaboration. Given the multidisciplinary nature of AI research, no single nation can achieve all breakthroughs alone. Cross-border data sharing, enriches training datasets, enhancing model performance. Similarly, international cooperation enables researchers to leverage diverse strengths in algorithms, computing power and applications, accelerating innovation. Moreover, addressing privacy, security and ethical concerns requires a unified effort. By fostering open dialogue and cooperation, the global community can harness AI's full potential for collective benefit.

As technology expert Alvin Wang Graylin observes, DeepSeek's progress underscores the U.S.'s shrinking lead in AI. Instead of an "arms race," a collaborative approach is essential. Moving beyond protectionism and embracing international cooperation will not only advance AI but also usher in a new era of responsible and inclusive technological progress.

DeepSeek's success serves as a powerful reminder that the future lies in collaboration, not competition. Embracing open-source values and fostering global partnerships will be essential to ensuring AI development benefits all of humanity.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X, formerly Twitter, to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)

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