Opinion | The AI that Silicon Valley fears: how DeepSeek democratised innovation

It has been over a month since the launch of DeepSeek AI sent shock waves through the global tech and investor landscape, reverberating far beyond the confines of Silicon Valley. This wasn’t solely about algorithms or data; it was a bold statement of innovation, a challenge to the entrenched dominance of Silicon Valley, and a mirror held up to the hypocrisy of zero-sum Western capitalism.

Why? Because DeepSeek’s defining feature wasn’t a groundbreaking technological advancement – it was the willingness to make it open source. It shattered the myth that capitalism only thrives when ideas are privatised for individual gain, often at great expense to public good. It defied the notion that creations can remain sovereign to their inventors, which ignores the reality that all innovation builds on the work of others.

This was a rare victory for the nascent shoots of a post-predatory capitalism that prioritises global public goods over profit maximisation – a model that remains anathema to Silicon Valley.

DeepSeek is a gesture of goodwill, and in that sense a deep provocation. It is also a symbol of what happens when bullies hard-wired with a sense of exceptionalism and privilege are confronted by a competitor that refuses to be intimidated or sidelined.

The myth of ‘tech for good’

Predictably, DeepSeek’s debut was met with a barrage of accusations. Western critics claimed it had evaded export controls, stolen intellectual property from OpenAI, exaggerated its capabilities, and was inherently flawed due to its Chinese origins. Others dismissed it as inferior because of its built-in censorship mechanisms. Some countries have even called for bans under the pretext of security concerns.