OpenAI has urged the U.S. government to impose an OpenAI DeepSeek ban, arguing that the Chinese AI lab is “state-subsidized” and “state-controlled.” In a recent policy proposal submitted for the Trump administration’s “AI Action Plan” initiative, OpenAI claims that DeepSeek’s models, including its R1 “reasoning” model, pose AI security risks due to the company’s legal obligation to share data with the Chinese government.

The proposal specifically calls for banning AI models developed by DeepSeek and other PRC-backed AI models in countries classified as “Tier 1” under the Biden administration’s AI export regulations. OpenAI contends that these restrictions are necessary to prevent privacy breaches, data leaks, and intellectual property theft, which could compromise national security and the competitive edge of American AI companies.

OpenAI Calling for DeepSeek Ban: Escalating Tensions

This move marks an escalation in the DeepSeek OpenAI controversy. Earlier this year, OpenAI accused DeepSeek of violating its terms of service by allegedly “distilling” knowledge from OpenAI’s proprietary models without authorization. Now, OpenAI is taking a more aggressive stance by framing DeepSeek as a company under Chinese government control, which, if true, could raise concerns about AI being used as a tool for state surveillance or cyber espionage.

However, it remains unclear whether OpenAI’s allegations are directed at DeepSeek’s API, its open-source models, or both. Notably, DeepSeek’s Chinese AI regulation-compliant models are hosted on platforms owned by Microsoft, Amazon, and Perplexity, raising questions about how they would be impacted by a potential ban.

China’s Growing Interest in DeepSeek

While no direct evidence confirms that DeepSeek is under Chinese government control, Beijing’s interest in the company has grown significantly in recent months. DeepSeek, originally a spin-off from the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer, has quickly become one of China’s most prominent AI research labs. Its advancements in reasoning-based AI models have positioned it as a major competitor in the global AI race.

Further fueling speculation about its ties to the Chinese state, DeepSeek’s founder, Liang Wenfeng, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping just weeks ago. While the details of their meeting remain undisclosed, the high-profile engagement suggests that the Chinese government is taking a keen interest in DeepSeek’s technological capabilities and potential role in the nation’s AI strategy.

The Bigger Picture: U.S.-China AI Rivalry

OpenAI’s push for a PRC-backed AI models ban reflects broader geopolitical concerns over AI dominance, cybersecurity, and data sovereignty. The U.S. government has already imposed stringent restrictions on China’s access to advanced semiconductor technology, and this proposal signals that AI models may be the next frontier in tech-related sanctions.

If OpenAI’s recommendations are adopted, it could set a precedent for further crackdowns on AI firms with suspected government ties, not just in China but in other nations with restrictive data policies. However, such a ban could also have unintended consequences, such as limiting global AI collaboration and potentially accelerating China’s push for self-reliance in AI development.

With tensions rising between the U.S. and China over emerging technologies, the DeepSeek OpenAI controversy is likely to continue evolving. Whether the U.S. government takes OpenAI’s proposal seriously remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle for AI supremacy is far from over. hina, OpenAI’s push for restrictions on DeepSeek reflects broader geopolitical concerns over AI dominance, data privacy, and national security.