China Closes AI Gap with the US: DeepSeek's Game-Changing Innovation

China's AI development has significantly closed the gap with the US to merely three months in certain areas, thanks to companies like DeepSeek. Despite US sanctions, innovative approaches in Chinese AI firms, such as DeepSeek's pioneering AI models, have driven growth in infrastructure software engineering.

China's quest to bridge the artificial intelligence (AI) development gap with the United States has seen considerable progress, with firms like DeepSeek playing a critical role. According to Lee Kai-fu, CEO of Chinese startup 01.AI, China's lead in areas like infrastructure software engineering is challenging previous assumptions about US sanctions hampering China's AI growth.

Lee, a former Google China head, revealed that DeepSeek's innovative AI reasoning model, launched in January, operated on less advanced chips, offering a more cost-effective alternative to Western models. This development, which emerged in the wake of tensions over semiconductor sanctions, showcases China's resilience and adaptability in AI technology.

As the global race to develop generative AI continues, Lee highlights that while a gap remains, it has narrowed considerably, with China even pulling ahead in some domains. The focus for his company, 01.AI, is on developing practical AI applications, as demonstrated by the recent launch of their Wanzhi software platform, aiming for substantial growth by 2025.

(With inputs from agencies.)