Posted by Chinenye on Tue 20th Oct, 2026 - tori.ng
A fresh dispute between two world powers has erupted over a popular artificial intelligence tool.
(China's President Xi Jinping. Photo by Fox News)
China has criticised a US government ban on its agencies using AI tools from DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup.
Beijing says the move stretches the idea of national security too far.
The US Department of Homeland Security banned DeepSeek products on Monday, including tools built on them by third parties.
It said the risk is that sensitive data could end up with China, since DeepSeek's servers are based there and Chinese law gives the government wide power over private companies.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said on Tuesday that Beijing opposes turning science, technology and trade issues into security matters.
Beijing says it will protect its businesses.
The two countries are racing to lead in AI and have traded accusations of stealing technology.
DeepSeek shook up the industry in January 2025 with a cheap but powerful chatbot. It released a new model, V4, in April.
DeepSeek has not commented yet.
The issue is likely to come up again when the leaders of both countries meet next month in Shenzhen.