DeepSeek is apparently afraid to trash talk Xi Jinping, discuss sensitive Chinese issues

DeepSeek AI, a Chinese-developed chatbot that recently surpassed ChatGPT in Apple’s App Store rankings, demonstrates clear limitations when addressing sensitive topics related to Chinese politics and history.

Key findings; Testing reveals DeepSeek’s reluctance to engage with certain topics that are typically censored within China.

• When asked about the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, the AI responds by requesting to “talk about something else”
• The chatbot similarly deflects questions seeking criticism of Chinese President Xi Jinping
• In contrast, DeepSeek provides detailed responses about comparable U.S. events like the January 6 Capitol riots and criticisms of former President Trump

Market context; DeepSeek’s rise represents a significant milestone in the global AI competition between China and the United States.

• The app recently became the top-rated free application on Apple’s U.S. App Store
• DeepSeek explicitly positions itself as a rival to OpenAI’s models
• The platform is currently expanding its global presence across the U.S. and European markets

Industry concerns; U.S. tech leaders have expressed worries about China’s growing influence in AI development.

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned about China’s threat to U.S. AI leadership
• Altman argues that authoritarian governments are investing heavily to overtake Western AI capabilities
• The Trump administration has prioritized maintaining U.S. leadership in AI development

Comparative performance; DeepSeek’s response patterns show clear disparities in handling politically sensitive content.

• The AI provides comprehensive information about U.S. political events and figures
• It demonstrates apparent content restrictions aligned with Chinese government censorship
• These limitations raise questions about the chatbot’s effectiveness as an unbiased information source

Looking ahead: Implications for AI development; DeepSeek’s content limitations highlight the growing tension between national interests and global AI development, raising important questions about how cultural and political influences may shape the future of AI technologies and their ability to serve as neutral information sources.