New York: Chinese state-affiliated social media accounts actively promoted the launch of DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence models last week, just days before a sharp downturn in U.S. tech stocks, according to an analysis by online intelligence firm Graphika.
Graphika’s report, provided to Reuters on Thursday, highlighted that accounts linked to Chinese embassies, diplomats, and state media amplified media coverage of DeepSeek’s advancements. These efforts portrayed the Chinese AI startup as a formidable challenger to U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence.
The coordinated messaging was disseminated across platforms such as Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as Chinese platforms including Weibo and Toutiao, the report stated.
China’s AI Narrative Strategy
“This activity demonstrates how China can rapidly mobilize various state-linked actors to shape online narratives that cast Beijing as surpassing the U.S. in strategic industries, particularly in AI development,” said Jack Stubbs, Graphika’s Chief Intelligence Officer.
Stubbs further noted, “We have consistently observed both overt and covert Chinese state-linked actors among the first to leverage AI in scaling influence operations within the information ecosystem.”
Graphika also identified a YouTube video containing pro-China and anti-Western content on a channel exhibiting patterns similar to “Shadow Play”, a coordinated influence campaign involving at least 30 YouTube channels. The campaign was initially exposed by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in 2023.
Alphabet, YouTube’s parent company, along with Meta, X, and the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report.
DeepSeek AI’s Impact on the Market
Graphika’s analysis found a surge in discussions comparing DeepSeek’s AI advancements to OpenAI’s ChatGPT immediately after DeepSeek launched its models on January 20. However, a much larger spike in activity began on Friday and gained momentum over the weekend.
By Monday, DeepSeek’s AI assistant had surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in downloads from Apple’s App Store. That same day, global investors offloaded U.S. tech stocks, resulting in a staggering $593 billion loss in Nvidia’s market value—the largest single-day loss for any company in Wall Street history.
Nvidia declined to comment on Graphika’s findings.
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U.S.-China AI Rivalry Intensifies
DeepSeek’s researchers claim they developed key aspects of their AI model at a fraction of the cost incurred by U.S. competitors. This has raised concerns that American firms, which have invested billions into AI infrastructure, may face a pricing war with China.
Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI and the operator of its cloud-based data centers, saw its stock slide earlier this week after reporting slower-than-expected cloud revenue growth. Despite this, both Microsoft and Meta have reaffirmed their commitment to substantial AI investments.
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In China, DeepSeek’s emergence was hailed as a victory against U.S. efforts to restrict Beijing’s tech sector through export controls. Meanwhile, in the U.S., DeepSeek has faced unproven allegations of unauthorized access to OpenAI’s technology.
Adding to the scrutiny, the U.S. Commerce Department is investigating whether DeepSeek has been utilizing American-made semiconductor chips that are subject to export restrictions, according to a source familiar with the matter.
