NASA Bans China's DeepSeek AI Technology Over Security Concerns

NASA has become the most recent federal agency to prohibit its employees from using China's DeepSeek AI technology. This decision comes amid growing concerns regarding security and privacy. According to information obtained by media sources, a memo circulated on Friday announced that DeepSeek's servers function outside of the United States, which raises significant national security and privacy issues.

In the memo issued by the agency's chief artificial intelligence officer, it was stated, "DeepSeek and its products and services are not authorized for use with NASA's data and information or on government-issued devices and networks." This directive is effective as of January 31, and it stipulates that NASA personnel must not share or upload agency data to DeepSeek's platforms, nor are they allowed to access the service using NASA devices and agency-managed networks.

NASA did not provide immediate comments on the matter.

DeepSeek has gained attention recently for its free-to-download AI assistant, which competes with established technologies such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google Gemini. In fact, DeepSeek's app surged to the top of Apple's App Store at the beginning of the week, even surpassing ChatGPT for the number one spot, where it remained on Friday.

The growing interest in DeepSeek's capabilities has significantly impacted U.S. markets, particularly affecting tech companies. Reports regarding DeepSeek's efficiency caused a notable decline in shares of chip manufacturers like Nvidia and Broadcom, which have thrived from developing valuable processors for AI applications.

Former President Donald Trump remarked that DeepSeek's swift rise in recognition should serve as a wake-up call to American tech firms.

Additionally, the U.S. Navy has also advised its members to refrain from engaging with DeepSeek. In an email warning, the Navy cited "potential security and ethical concerns" related to the AI platform's origin and use.

On another front, reports from Axios indicate that U.S. congressional offices have been informed that the usage of DeepSeek is not authorized for official use within the House, in accordance with a notice from the House's chief administrative officer.

NASA, DeepSeek, AI