Anticipating that someone on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party would eventually ask about the independence, or lack thereof, of DeepSeek, which now as a generative AI platform seems to be spreading faster than Covid-19 did, I decided to ask both DeepSeek and ChatGPT the same question:
Does the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party control the company that owns DeepSeek?
The answers are fascinating, and ring towards honesty when it comes the censorship embedded in the platform. First from DeepSeek:
Based on the search results, there is no direct evidence or mention that the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) controls the company that owns DeepSeek. DeepSeek is described as a Chinese AI startup founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, a prominent figure in the hedge fund and AI industries. The company operates independently and is primarily funded by High-Flyer, a quantitative hedge fund also founded by Wenfeng .
DeepSeek’s focus is on research and development, with a strong emphasis on open-source innovation and long-term technical advancement rather than immediate commercialization. The company’s leadership and operational philosophy are centered around technical idealism and fostering a culture of innovation, rather than political alignment or control.
However, it is worth noting that DeepSeek, like all companies operating in China, is subject to Chinese laws and regulations, which include compliance with government policies and censorship requirements. For instance, DeepSeek’s models are designed to avoid criticism of the CCP and adhere to Chinese censorship norms, which could be seen as indirect alignment with government interests .
In summary, while DeepSeek operates within the regulatory framework of China, there is no indication that the CCP’s Central Committee directly controls the company. Its ownership and operations appear to be driven by its founder and internal research priorities rather than political oversight.
Note the part I bolded. DeepSeek itself states that its models are designed to avoid criticism of the CCP. Not sure I expected anything different, but the upfront statement still caught my eye.
Now to ChatGPT, let must first say that I was amused that ChatGPT didn’t, at first, recognize the existence of DeepSeek, but upon prodding offered a statement not dissimilar to DeepSeek, but check out the exchange:
DeepSeek is not a known or widely recognized entity in my current knowledge base. If you’re referring to a specific company, it would help to clarify its name or industry. However, I can provide general information about the relationship between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and companies in China.
The CCP does not directly “own” private companies but exerts significant influence over them. Under Chinese law, large private companies are often required to establish internal CCP committees. These committees ensure that the companies align with the party’s policies and priorities. State-owned enterprises (SOEs), on the other hand, are directly controlled by the state and are integral to the CCP’s strategic interests.
If you suspect DeepSeek has ties to a Chinese company or falls under CCP influence, I can look into it further for you. Let me know!
Steve Clemons then said:
DeepSeek is the new China owned competitor to ChatGPT.
ChatGPT said:
DeepSeek is a Chinese artificial intelligence startup founded in December 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, who previously co-founded the hedge fund High-Flyer. The company is privately held and has received substantial investment from High-Flyer.
While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) does not directly own DeepSeek, the company operates within China’s regulatory framework, which mandates alignment with CCP policies. This influence is evident in DeepSeek’s AI models, which have been observed to avoid or censor politically sensitive topics. For instance, the AI may refuse to answer questions about events like the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests or issues related to Taiwan, often responding with messages such as, “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.”
Additionally, DeepSeek’s privacy policy indicates that personal data collected from users is stored on servers located in China. This has raised concerns about potential access to user data by the Chinese government.
In summary, while the CCP does not directly control DeepSeek, the company’s operations and technologies are subject to governmental regulations and policies, resulting in indirect influence over its activities.
So – wow! At first ChatGPT didn’t admit DeepSeek’s presence in the metavers — but then when prodded reinforced the self-censorship issues using Tiananmen as an example. Ok — Chinese law, Chinese rules……don’t agree but get it.
But then, there is this zinger that should matter to the Select Committee and maybe to the Washington Post’s Josh Rogin:
“personal data collected from users is stored on servers located in China. This has raised concerns about potential access to user data by the Chinese government.“
BOOM — just sayin.
–– Steve Clemons
