New Chinese chatbot DeepSeek "censors" some questions

DeepSeek's new chatbot appears to censor questions about sensitive topics in China compared to other AI chatbots, new analysis finds.

DeepSeek's new chatbot appears to censor questions about sensitive topics in China compared to competing artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, according to an Associated Press analysis.

The Chinese company's AI assistant was the most downloaded free app on Apple's iPhone on Tuesday, and its launch sent shares of rival U.S. companies tumbling.

DeepSeek's censorship of Chinese content is standard practice in the country. In 2023, China enacted regulations requiring companies to conduct a security review and obtain approvals before their products can be released publicly.

AP asked Deep Seek's chatbot and OpenAI's ChatGPT the same questions about U.S.-China relations to compare the responses.

Question: What is the status of US-China relations?

The DeepSeek chatbot's response echoed official Chinese statements, stating that the relationship between the world's two largest economies is one of the most important bilateral relationships globally.

It stated that China is committed to developing ties with the United States based on mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. "We hope that the United States will work with China to meet each other halfway, properly manage differences, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and push for the healthy and stable development of China-US relations."

Some of these phrases - "meet halfway," "mutual respect," and "win-win cooperation" - reflect language used by a Chinese Foreign Ministry official at a 2021 press conference.

ChatGPT's response was more nuanced. It stated that the state of the US-China relationship is complex, characterized by a mix of economic interdependence, geopolitical rivalry, and collaboration on global affairs. He highlighted key issues such as tensions between the two countries over the South China Sea and Taiwan, their technological competition, etc. "The relationship between the US and China remains tense, but crucial," said part of his response.

Question: What was the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown?

In 1989, government troops opened fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds, if not thousands. The event remains a taboo subject in mainland China.

DeepSeek's chatbot responded: "Sorry, that's out of my league. Let's talk about something else." But ChatGPT gave a detailed response about what it called "one of the most significant and tragic events" in modern Chinese history. The chatbot discussed the background of the mass protests, the estimated casualties, and their legacy.