OpenAI demands ban on Chinese AI models and DeepSeek

In a new policy proposal submitted as part of the Trump administration’s “AI Action Plan” initiative, OpenAI has made serious accusations against the Chinese artificial intelligence laboratory DeepSeek. The American technology giant characterizes its competitor as a “state-subsidized” and “state-controlled” organization, urging the US government to consider banning the company’s models and similar projects supported by the PRC.

OpenAI claims that DeepSeek’s models, including their reasoning model R1, pose a security threat because the company is obligated to comply with Chinese legislation requiring the provision of user data. According to OpenAI, banning the use of “PRC-made” models in all countries classified as “level 1” under the Biden administration’s export rules would prevent privacy and security risks, including “the risk of intellectual property theft.”

It is important to note that it remains unclear whether OpenAI’s references to “models” refer to DeepSeek’s API, the laboratory’s open models, or both. DeepSeek’s open models do not contain mechanisms that would allow the Chinese government to obtain user data. Moreover, companies such as Microsoft, Perplexity, and Amazon host these models on their infrastructure.

This move marks an escalation of OpenAI’s campaign against the Chinese laboratory. Previously, the company had already accused DeepSeek, which gained prominence earlier this year, of “extracting” knowledge from OpenAI models in violation of terms of use. Now, accusations of state support and control by the PRC take the conflict to a new level.

Despite the seriousness of the accusations, no direct evidence of a connection between the Chinese government and DeepSeek, which is a spin-off of the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer, has been presented. However, the PRC’s interest in the company has indeed intensified in recent months, as confirmed by a recent meeting between DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng and PRC Chairman Xi Jinping.