Pentagon staff have been downloading an early version the Chinese generative artificial intelligence model DeepSeek onto their workstations since the fall of 2024, according to Bloomberg. The Pentagon’s IT experts only moved to partially block the app’s usage after its recent surge in popularity.
Earlier this month, the Chinese startup unveiled its latest open-source AI model, R1, which its creators claim has outperformed leading products from US developers, including OpenAI’s flagship o1, in some cases. The model’s accessibility – allowing anyone to download and run it on their own servers for free – has stirred the open-source community and triggered a sell-off of US tech stocks on Monday.
Read more: Social media reacts as ‘Imran Khan Enclave’ Unveiled at Cricket Stadium
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), which manages the Pentagon’s IT networks, moved to block access to the DeepSeek website late on Tuesday after many defense employees had already used the latest AI chatbot for at least two days, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing unnamed US defense officials.
DISA experts are now assessing the extent of employees’ direct use of DeepSeek through web browsers. When accessed via the company’s website or its popular apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play, DeepSeek’s privacy policy indicated that user data is stored on servers in China and governed under Chinese law.
Despite the restrictions, thousands of Pentagon employees continue to use the Chinese-trained AI through the authorized web platform Ask Sage, which provides access to multiple models, including DeepSeek, hosted on its own US-based servers.
Read more: White Bridge Mining Partners with Apex Energy to Unlock Pakistan’s Mineral Wealth
Some US military personnel also downloaded an earlier version of DeepSeek onto their workstations as early as the fall of 2024, according to Bloomberg sources. At the time, the connection to China was allegedly “not evident” to Defense Department security teams, and the downloads did not raise immediate concerns.
The growing interest in DeepSeek has prompted the US military to locate and remove code from China-origin chatbots on employees’ machines. The Navy has banned any use of DeepSeek, citing security and ethical concerns related to the model’s origins. The Air Force has not issued specific guidance on DeepSeek but prohibits the use of sensitive public information in commercial generative AI systems without proper approvals.
OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman has acknowledged that DeepSeek R1 is an “impressive model, particularly in terms of what they’re able to deliver for the price.” The Chinese startup claims it developed a competitive AI model without access to cutting-edge US chips for just $6 million.
US President Donald Trump, who has designated AI development as a top priority for his administration, called DeepSeek’s launch a “wake-up call” for the American AI industry. Last week, he announced Stargate, an initiative to build data centers across the US to serve as the backbone for future AI projects, with an investment target of up to $500 billion.