Florida's Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, has banned the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese generative AI application, within the state's Department of Financial Services, citing national security concerns. This move is the latest episode in the AI app's rapid rise to prominence, which has sent shockwaves through the tech industry.
DeepSeek's AI model has demonstrated efficiency levels that could potentially challenge America's AI supremacy, with some experts warning that it could be used to spy on American citizens, acquire proprietary secrets, and conduct influence campaigns. Furthermore, there are concerns that DeepSeek may have acquired data from OpenAI's ChatGPT model in an unauthorized manner.
The ban on DeepSeek comes as the US and China engage in an AI tug-of-war, with President Donald Trump's administration courting a strong relationship with OpenAI and other AI leaders. Trump has announced a $500 billion joint AI venture, known as Stargate, aimed at creating AI infrastructure in the US and cementing America's leadership in AI.
