China’s embrace of DeepSeek’s AI models has expanded beyond tech companies into everyday household appliances. The startup, based in Hangzhou, has seen a surge of support from Chinese manufacturers, with home appliance giants such as Haier, Hisense, and TCL Electronics announcing plans to incorporate DeepSeek’s AI models into their products. These appliances, already equipped with voice-activated commands, are set to become even smarter with DeepSeek’s models, which promise greater accuracy and functionality.
DeepSeek has made waves in the AI sector this year, with its large language models competing against Western systems but at a fraction of the cost. This has sparked immense pride in China, where the company is seen as a testament to the country’s growing tech capabilities in the face of US efforts to limit its advancements. The company’s founder, Liang Wenfeng, has received significant recognition from Chinese authorities, and DeepSeek is expected to soon release its next-generation R2 reasoning model.
The impact of DeepSeek’s technology is already being felt across industries. From robotics to smart appliances, its AI models offer improved precision in tasks such as obstacle avoidance in robot vacuum cleaners. These devices are expected to better understand complex commands, like ‘Gently wax the wooden floor in the master bedroom but avoid the Legos,’ making everyday life more efficient and intuitive.
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China accused Taiwan on Wednesday of attempting to hand over its semiconductor industry to the United States, claiming that the island’s government was using the industry to gain political support from Washington. The accusation comes amid reports that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, may be negotiating a stake in Intel. However, neither TSMC nor Intel has confirmed the talks and Taiwan’s government says it has not received such investment proposals from TSMC.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson, Zhu Fenglian, suggested without providing evidence that Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was using TSMC to seek foreign support for independence, accusing the island of ‘selling out’ its companies to the US. Taiwan, however, rejected these claims, with Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council affirming the importance of TSMC to the island’s economy and stressing its commitment to maintaining a leading role in semiconductor technology.
The US has been critical of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, with former President Donald Trump calling for more manufacturing to return to the United States. Despite China’s claims, Taiwan maintains that it is responsible for its foreign investment decisions. The island continues to rely on the US for military support, though the US does not formally recognise Taiwan’s government.
TSMC, which supplies major companies like Apple and Nvidia, did not comment on the reports. Taiwan’s government, however, vowed to support the company amid rising tensions surrounding its semiconductor industry.
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China has warned that the United States‘ efforts to pressure other nations into targeting its semiconductor industry will ultimately backfire.
During a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticised Washington’s approach, arguing that it would disrupt the global semiconductor supply chain and hinder industry development worldwide.
Lin Jian emphasised that such actions not only undermine fair competition but also threaten the stability of the global technology market.
Tensions between the US and China over semiconductor access have escalated in recent years, with Washington implementing export controls and encouraging its allies to adopt similar measures.
Beijing has consistently opposed these restrictions, calling them politically motivated attempts to curb China’s technological progress.
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Elon Musk’s Starlink is facing mounting competition from several ambitious satellite internet projects, including China’s SpaceSail and Jeff Bezos’s Project Kuiper. SpaceSail, backed by the Chinese government, recently expanded its reach to Brazil and Kazakhstan, with plans for a 15,000-satellite constellation by 2030. Meanwhile, Bezos’s Project Kuiper is in talks with Brazilian officials to establish its own LEO satellite network.
These developments come as Beijing accelerates its investment in satellite technology, having launched a record 263 satellites last year. With SpaceSail aiming to deploy 648 satellites in 2025 alone, it is positioning itself as a serious challenger to Starlink’s current fleet of around 7,000 satellites. SpaceSail’s plans are seen as part of China’s broader push to expand its digital influence, sparking concerns about potential censorship capabilities.
While Starlink has revolutionised internet access for remote areas, its rivals are gaining traction with the backing of state funds and government connections. As the race to dominate satellite internet intensifies, the future of global connectivity may be shaped by these new players in space.
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Tesla has introduced a long-awaited update to its Autopilot software in China, adding city navigation features that allow for automatic lane changes and traffic light detection. However, many Chinese Tesla owners were disappointed, expressing that the update did not meet the high expectations set by CEO Elon Musk. The new features, while similar to the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, are less advanced in China due to insufficient data on local roads and traffic rules.
Tesla faces stiff competition from Chinese automakers like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BYD, which offer advanced driver-assistance systems at lower prices or even for free. These rivals have already launched vehicles capable of navigating complex Chinese traffic, leaving Tesla behind in the race for smart-driving technology. Despite this, Tesla continues to charge its customers nearly $9,000 for the limited version of its FSD software, which many feel does not live up to the promises made by the company.
The delays in rolling out full FSD in China are partly due to regulatory hurdles and restrictions on data transfer between China and the US. Tesla is working on gaining approval from Beijing for its advanced systems, but China currently only requires registration for level-two autonomous features like Autopilot. Tesla is also looking into establishing a data centre in China to train its AI software, though the process has been complicated by strict Chinese data laws.
While Tesla’s Autopilot update is seen as a step forward, it faces growing criticism for not keeping pace with the rapidly evolving smart-driving features offered by local competitors. Tesla’s challenge in China highlights the complex balance the company must maintain between innovation, regulatory compliance, and local competition.
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Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has announced plans to release five new code repositories next week, reinforcing its commitment to open-source artificial intelligence.
The company, which gained global attention with its R1 reasoning model rivaling Western AI systems, described the release as ‘small but sincere progress’ towards full transparency. These repositories, tested in real-world applications, will provide essential infrastructure to support the AI models DeepSeek has already made public.
DeepSeek has set itself apart in China‘s AI sector by embracing open-source practices, a rare move in a market that typically favours closed-source models.
Founder Liang Wenfeng has emphasised the cultural significance of open-source over commercial gains, highlighting the satisfaction that comes from driving innovation and earning industry respect.
His approach has sparked global interest, particularly after the release of the R1 model, known for its strong performance and cost efficiency.
The company has also recently introduced a new algorithm, Native Sparse Attention (NSA), designed to improve efficiency in long-context training and inference.
DeepSeek’s popularity has surged, becoming China’s leading chatbot service with 22.2 million daily active users, surpassing long-established platforms like Douban. The growing user base and commitment to open-source are positioning DeepSeek as a major player in the global AI landscape.
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Elon Musk’s Starlink network is facing increasing competition in the satellite internet market, particularly from SpaceSail, a Shanghai-based company backed by the Chinese government, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. SpaceSail is expanding rapidly, having entered Brazil in November and begun operations in Kazakhstan by January. Meanwhile, Brazil is also in talks with Project Kuiper and Canada’s Telesat to diversify its options for providing high-speed internet to remote areas.
SpaceSail plans to launch 648 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites this year, with the ambition of deploying up to 15,000 by 2030. This move aims to compete directly with Starlink, which currently operates around 7,000 satellites but plans to increase its constellation to 42,000 by the end of the decade. China’s push into satellite internet is part of its broader strategy to dominate space and digital technologies, which has raised concerns among Western governments, particularly regarding Beijing’s potential to extend its censorship and surveillance reach globally.
China’s rapid expansion in satellite technology, supported by state funding and military research, has intensified. It has launched 263 LEO satellites in the past year alone, and researchers are focusing on low-latency systems to compete with Starlink’s capabilities. The Chinese government is also exploring ways to track and monitor satellite constellations, potentially targeting Starlink as a strategic competitor.
As competition in the satellite internet sector intensifies, particularly between the US, China, and other players like Brazil, the geopolitical and military implications of these space technologies are becoming clearer. With nations striving to secure positions in space, experts warn of an increasingly complex and competitive environment.
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Alibaba has announced plans to invest at least 380 billion yuan ($52.44 billion) in cloud computing and AI infrastructure over the next three years. This significant investment, revealed on Monday, follows the company’s earnings announcement on Friday, where it reported revenue of 280.15 billion yuan for the quarter ending December 31, slightly surpassing analysts’ expectations. The investment in AI and cloud computing will exceed the company’s total spending in these areas over the past decade.
The announcement marks a strategic push for Alibaba in the rapidly growing AI sector, positioning the company as a key player in China’s AI race. This has already paid off in the stock market, with Alibaba’s shares climbing over 68% so far this year, reflecting strong investor confidence. The move also comes as other Chinese tech giants, such as ByteDance, are making similar investments, with ByteDance reportedly allocating over 150 billion yuan this year to enhance its AI capabilities.
This wave of investment underscores the growing importance of AI and cloud computing to China’s tech landscape. It also highlights the competitive race between Chinese firms to dominate these sectors and secure their positions in the global technology arena.
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OpenAI has removed accounts linked to users in China and North Korea over concerns they were using ChatGPT for malicious activities.
The company cited cases of AI-generated content being used for surveillance, influence campaigns, and fraudulent schemes. AI tools were employed to detect the operations.
Some accounts produced news articles in Spanish that criticised the US and were later published under a Chinese company’s byline. Others, potentially connected to North Korea, created fake resumes and online profiles in an attempt to secure jobs at Western firms.
A separate operation, believed to be tied to financial fraud in Cambodia, used ChatGPT to generate and translate comments on social media.
The US government has raised concerns over China’s use of AI to spread misinformation and suppress its population. Security risks associated with AI-driven disinformation and fraudulent activities have led to increased scrutiny of how such tools are being used globally.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT remains the most widely used AI chatbot, with over 400 million weekly active users. The company is also in discussions to secure up to $40 billion in funding, which could set a record for a private firm.
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Huawei’s founder Ren Zhengfei told President Xi Jinping that China’s concerns about a lack of domestically developed chips and operating systems have eased, following a meeting with key entrepreneurs. According to Chinese state media, Ren expressed confidence that China would rise faster, thanks to its advancements in technology, particularly in semiconductors and software. The phrase ‘lack of core and soul,’ which refers to the absence of critical technology like chips and operating systems, was first used in 1999 to highlight challenges in China’s information industry.
The meeting, which included prominent founders such as BYD’s Wang Chuanfu and Xiaomi’s Lei Jun, discussed the achievements and growth in sectors like electric vehicles and electronics. Ren’s comments reflected the progress made despite challenges like US sanctions, with Huawei playing a key role in pushing for China’s self-sufficiency. Wang shared how China’s EV industry had grown significantly, while Lei praised Xi’s leadership, stating that under his guidance, any challenges could be overcome.
Other entrepreneurs, including representatives from Will Semiconductor, Unitree Robotics, and New Hope Group, also spoke at the meeting, although details about their comments were not widely disclosed. The meeting was part of a broader push for China to strengthen its technological independence.
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