The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, held in Paris from February 10 to 11, convened leaders and tech executives from over 100 countries to discuss the promotion and safe application of artificial intelligence. A standout topic was the emergence of Chinese mainland's large language models (LLMs), particularly DeepSeek, which is transforming the global AI landscape.
A New Era in AI Development
DeepSeek has garnered international attention since its debut. Its innovative \"low-cost algorithms + open source\" model diverges from the traditional \"high-investment computing power + closed source\" approach. This paradigm shift highlights that advanced AI capabilities can be achieved through algorithmic innovation rather than relying solely on extensive computational resources.
Historically, AI advancements have been driven by scaling laws that emphasize the necessity of massive computing power. However, DeepSeek's robust reasoning abilities and performance, achieved through intelligent optimization, challenge this conventional wisdom. This breakthrough not only reduces costs but also broadens the scope of AI applications, making the technology more accessible and sustainable.
Transforming the Global AI Landscape
Amid technology restrictions and upgrades in computing infrastructure, the Chinese mainland is advancing through its independent open-source ecosystem and wide-ranging applications. The rise of DeepSeek signifies a move away from dependence on high-end chips, presenting new opportunities for AI development worldwide.
On January 21, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the Stargate AI infrastructure plan, backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. This initiative involves a $500 billion investment in next-generation AI infrastructure, including advanced data centers and energy facilities, marking the onset of a new AI technology arms race.
The central debate in AI development now centers on the relevance of the Scaling Law. If barriers related to computing power and algorithmic limitations are overcome, a fundamental shift in AI development paradigms may be imminent.
The emergence of DeepSeek and similar Chinese mainland models is reshaping the global AI competitive landscape. Traditionally dominated by high-end chips and closed-source technologies, AI development has presented significant entry barriers. However, DeepSeek's open-source methodology and low computing costs are democratizing AI development, allowing more countries and companies to engage in the AI revolution.
This shift is particularly notable against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and technology blockades. For example, on January 13, the U.S. government imposed stricter regulations on AI chip exports, limiting the Chinese mainland's access to advanced chips below 16nm. This policy inadvertently spurred domestic technological advancements. On February 1, Huawei Ascend became the first Chinese mainland AI chip to support DeepSeek models. Within a week, over 15 domestic AI chip firms announced compatibility with DeepSeek, accelerating the Chinese mainland's AI computing independence.
DeepSeek optimizes compatibility with domestic chip instruction sets, supports local operating systems, and integrates with hardware acceleration. By collaborating closely with domestic chip manufacturers, DeepSeek enhances AI performance while promoting technological autonomy. This shift strengthens the Chinese mainland's AI industrial chain and ensures greater information security.
