Situation Report (SITREP):
- The recent launch of a new open-source chat bot by DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence firm had widespread implications, from triggering a dive in US tech stocks to rapidly overtaking existing AI software.
- DeepSeek claims to have a financial advantage over its competitors, large language model-based Artificial Intelligence assistants like OpenAI Google, Meta, and ChatGPT are more expensive to operate.
- Some tech experts caution DeepSeek to be more of a “paper tiger” and just another backdoor for the Chinese government to access propriety information from the private sector and national security information from the public sector.
- Out of an abundance of caution, individuals and organizations should not install Chinese-based applications and software on devices used to house sensitive information. Businesses and organizations should consider strengthening and/or adjusting their cyber-security posture, prepare and implement emergency action and continuity of operations plans.
Situation Report (SITREP):
The recent launch of a new open-source chat bot by DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) firm had widespread implications, from triggering a dive in US tech stocks to rapidly overtaking existing AI software. Certainly reaching the status of “tech disrupter” – seemingly overnight- the publicly declared goal of the Hangzhou based firm is to make an artificial general intelligence – a term for human-level intelligence that no technology firm has yet achieved.
DeepSeek claims to have a financial advantage over its competitors, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Meta’s Llama 3 and X’s Grok are more compute-heavy to operate. DeepSeek uses a different kind of internal architecture that requires less memory use and consequently reduces the computational costs of every search or interaction with the existing chatbot-style “ask and answer” system.
Proponents of DeepSeek revel in the revolutionary, comparably inexpensive software. However, critics have already noticed the pro-Chinese Communist Party’s political bias ingrained in the algorithms. Additionally, many tech experts believe DeepSeek to be more of a “paper tiger” and just another backdoor for the Chinese government to access propriety information from the private sector and national security information from the public sector. While increased access to information and powerful commutative technology seem like a major societal advancement, as with all technological breakthroughs, time will tell how consequential and impactful DeepSeek actually is in the global arena of tech and telecommunications.
Impact Analysis and Recommended Action:
Business leaders and government officials across the aisle already maintain a healthy skepticism of Chinese-based technology, software, and applications. Out of an abundance of caution, individuals and organizations should not install Chinese-based applications and software on devices used to house sensitive information. Businesses and organizations should consider strengthening and/or adjusting their cyber-security posture, prepare and implement emergency action and continuity of operations plans.
In the short term, DeepSeek is most certainly going to disrupt existing tech companies’ operations and possibly drive competitors, such as OpenAi’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Meta’s Llama, X’s Grok, out of business. In the long term, it remains to be seen how impactful the latest tech will be in global markets. Regardless, the DeepSeek has many worried, entering the ring and grabbing the attention of tech giants. Consequently, the free and available software is likely to trigger an international “tech race” on par with the US-Russian “Space Race” and “Nuclear Arms Race.” To find out how to mitigate AI and cyber-security related risks consider contacting RMS’ security professionals at info@rmsiusa.com to develop a customized and resilient protection plan to protect yourself and loved ones, as well as your organization, assets, personnel, operations and reputation.
About RMS International:
Founded in 2012, RMS International provides ad hoc and contracted close protection, estate security, international travel management, corporate executive protection, personnel and asset security, and discreet investigative services. Operating a state-of-the-art Risk Operations Center in West Palm Beach, they provide 24/7 overwatch of global operations in Asia, Europe, Africa and throughout the Americas. RMS International delivers peace of mind in a chaotic world. Connect with us at RMSIUSA.com
