DeepSeek goes offline amid 'malicious attacks,' bans new international users

Viral Chinese AI app DeepSeek is offline, with its services disrupted by what the company has described as “large-scale malicious attacks.” The Hangzhou-based startup has also restricted new signups to Chinese phone numbers, effectively banning international users from accessing the platform.

The outage comes after a series of technical issues in recent days, coinciding with DeepSeek’s meteoric rise. Its perceived superior performance has sent shockwaves through the global tech industry, leading US tech companies to lose $1 trillion in market value.

DeepSeek: A new AI leader?

Founded in 2023, DeepSeek has disrupted the AI landscape with advanced models praised for their performance and cost-effectiveness. The startup claims its models rival those from OpenAI and Meta, while being far cheaper to train.

Using Nvidia’s H800 chips, the company reportedly developed its latest model for under $6 million, a fraction of what US companies spend. These revelations have prompted US tech executives to question the effectiveness of export controls aimed at limiting China’s access to high-end AI hardware.

US-China AI race intensifies

The Biden administration’s chip export bans, designed to curb China’s AI advancements, may face scrutiny as DeepSeek’s rise challenges Silicon Valley’s dominance. Despite the restrictions, DeepSeek’s rapid progress has reignited debates about the effectiveness of such measures.

While DeepSeek’s disruption highlights the potential of Chinese AI, Monday’s outage has also revealed the challenges the startup faces as it scales globally. For now, the app’s return remains uncertain, and the company has not provided a timeline for resuming full services.