DeepSeek's AI model, which recently topped iPhone app store charts globally, appears to systematically avoid answering questions about topics sensitive to the Chinese government, raising concerns about censorship in artificial intelligence.
When asked about subjects like human rights issues, government criticism, or specific historical events in China, DeepSeek's AI consistently deflects with the same response: "Sorry, I'm not sure how to approach this type of question yet. Let's chat about math, coding, and logic problems instead!"
The AI even refuses to discuss seemingly innocent topics like Winnie the Pooh - a character that became censored in China after memes compared the character to President Xi Jinping. When asked about Pooh, the system generates an answer before quickly retracting it.
In contrast, DeepSeek readily provides detailed responses about other political topics. For instance, it offers comprehensive answers about criticisms of both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, generating responses over 500 words long.
This selective answering pattern aligns with China's strict content control requirements. Reports from financial media indicate that Chinese regulators demand extensive reviews of AI models, including testing responses to tens of thousands of questions to verify "safe answers."
The censorship issue highlights broader challenges in AI development within China's regulatory environment. Industry experts suggest that programming AI systems to avoid politically sensitive topics or terminate certain conversations could hamper development progress and contradict the inherently unpredictable nature of generative AI.
DeepSeek has remained silent on these censorship observations, declining to respond to multiple media outlets' requests for comment.
While DeepSeek's R1 model has gained attention for its claimed cost-effectiveness compared to competitors like OpenAI and Meta, these censorship practices raise questions about the trade-offs between technological advancement and content restrictions in AI development.
The situation underscores the complex relationship between artificial intelligence development and government control, particularly as AI technology continues to evolve globally.