The emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI platform competing with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot, is reshaping the AI landscape.
As generative AI advances, platforms like DeepSeek are not only driving demand for high-performance computing (HPC) chips but also influencing the way disinformation is detected and how governments approach cybersecurity.
AI’s Growing Role in Disinformation Detection
DeepSeek’s capabilities extend beyond text generation, offering researchers new tools for analysing extremist rhetoric and disinformation. Charles Darwin University forensic linguistics expert Dr Awni Etaywe recently examined how DeepSeek and ChatGPT handle far-right extremist content, revealing complementary strengths.
“ChatGPT provides a broad, detailed analysis that helps users understand the structural and rhetorical components of extremist discourse,” Dr Etaywe explained.
“Its focus on linguistic techniques and logical fallacies gives a deep, analytical framework for debunking harmful narratives.”
In contrast, DeepSeek delves into the psychological aspects of disinformation, exposing the emotional and manipulative techniques used to radicalise audiences.
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“DeepSeek excels in identifying the emotional and psychological manipulations that underlie disinformation,” Dr Etaywe added.
“It underscores the manipulation of fear, identity, and urgency as key drivers of radical ideologies.”
By combining these approaches, both AI models contribute to efforts in countering disinformation, offering governments and organisations valuable tools to combat harmful narratives online.
National Security Concerns
Despite its analytical strengths, DeepSeek has come under scrutiny due to data security concerns. A New South Wales government department recently banned the AI tool on government devices, adding it to the growing list of Chinese-owned platforms restricted due to security risks.
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Dr Dana McKay, a senior lecturer at RMIT’s School of Computing Technologies, explained the reasoning behind the ban.
“DeepSeek even collects keystroke patterns, which can be used to identify individuals, potentially allowing them to match in-work searches with leisure time searches, potentially leading to national security risks,” she said.
While OpenAI and Google also collect user data, the difference lies in data sovereignty laws.
“OpenAI will only give data to government to comply with relevant laws, typically where a crime may have been committed,” Dr McKay noted.
“Whether governments should be concerned about the level of data collected by commercial companies, such as OpenAI and Google, is still a significant question, but one that is separate to the national security concerns raised by China’s data sovereignty laws.”
The Future of AI and Communication
As AI platforms like DeepSeek continue to evolve, they bring both opportunities and risks.
Their ability to dissect disinformation and influence public discourse highlights their growing role in digital communication. However, concerns over data security will likely shape how governments and organisations regulate their use in the future.
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