Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is limiting new registrations for its AI service, citing “large-scale malicious attacks” on its platform.
The issues, which began at around 1.30pm UK time, are slowing down the website and playing havoc with the company’s API (the tech that lets other apps talk to DeepSeek’s AI).
Earlier on Monday, DeepSeek said it was restricting sign-ups to those with Chinese mobile phone numbers. The company’s website and app appears to be working for those who previously created accounts, though users have noticed that the AI is taking longer to process queries.
News of the disruption comes after DeepSeek overtook ChatGPT to become the top app on Apple’s charts.
As more Western users have flocked to DeepSeek, concerns about Chinese censorship have also surfaced. For instance, the bot refuses to respond or abruptly ends conversations about topics like the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
Here’s what you need to know about the AI that has Silicon Valley in panic mode.
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