The United States Navy has issued a directive prohibiting all personnel from using DeepSeek, a Chinese-owned artificial intelligence chatbot, citing security and ethical concerns about the technology's origins.
The order, confirmed by a US Navy spokesperson to CNBC, was distributed via email to the entire Operational Navy (OpNav) distribution list on Friday. The message explicitly instructed staff to avoid using DeepSeek AI "in any capacity" and to "refrain from downloading, installing, or using the DeepSeek model" for both work-related and personal purposes.
This swift action by the Navy comes as DeepSeek, developed by a hedge fund in Hangzhou, China, has recently gained attention as a potential competitor to ChatGPT. The ban stems from multiple concerns, including DeepSeek's data collection practices, which involve storing user information on servers in China.
The decision aligns with the Department of the Navy's Chief Information Officer's generative AI policy and follows an advisory from the Naval Air Warcraft Center Division Cyber Workforce Manager. The timing of the ban is notable, as it preceded DeepSeek's viral surge in popularity by just days.
The Navy's concerns mirror broader discussions about AI security in government institutions. Similar precautionary measures were previously implemented for other AI tools, including early restrictions on ChatGPT use in various organizations and government agencies.
This development occurs amid growing tensions between US and Chinese technology sectors, with recent allegations from OpenAI suggesting that Chinese competitors may be using their work to advance their own AI applications. The situation has caught the attention of White House officials, who are examining potential national security implications of DeepSeek's emergence in the AI landscape.