US bans DeepSeek from most government systems

The ban follows long-running accusations by US firms that Chinese rivals have been "distilling" their AI models — a practice the White House's technology advisor has described as a "malicious exploitation" of American technology. Washington's action against DeepSeek turns those complaints into a concrete restriction on which AI tools government agencies may use.

The move lands as skepticism about AI's impact has grown on both sides of the Pacific. Researchers have argued that Washington and Beijing should look past their differences and work together to rein in the powerful technology, which some warn poses an existential threat to humanity. A Silicon Valley investor, writing in The Washington Post, called for "a narrow bilateral framework" now — a suggestion that stands in contrast to the unilateral step the US has just taken.