US bans China's DeepSeek AI on government devices

The U.S. Commerce Department has banned the use of a Chinese artificial intelligence model called DeepSeek on its government devices. This decision is part of efforts to protect sensitive information and keep government systems secure. Staff members were informed about the ban through a recent email. It warned them against downloading or accessing any applications related to DeepSeek on their government-furnished equipment. The department did not respond to requests for additional information about the ban's scope across the U.S. government. DeepSeek's low-cost AI tools raised concerns at the beginning of the year, causing a decline in global stock markets. Lawmakers are worried that using DeepSeek could compromise data privacy and expose sensitive information to the Chinese Communist Party. Congressmen Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood proposed legislation in February to prohibit DeepSeek on government devices. They have also reached out to state governors, encouraging them to impose similar bans. Several states, including Virginia, Texas, and New York, have already banned DeepSeek on government equipment. A group of 21 state attorneys general has urged Congress to take action against this Chinese AI model, citing risks related to sensitive data exposure.