EconoScope | Chinese AI innovation reshapes global development paradigm

(ECNS) -- The open-source AI model DeepSeek has risen to global prominence. With “just 1/18 of the training cost, 1/10 of the team size, and performance on par with top models,” DeepSeek has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley.

“DeepSeek marks a new milestone in China’s AI engineering innovation,” said Chen Xiaoping, professor at the University of Science and Technology of China and chairman of the AI Ethics under the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence.

Previously, AI model development had shifted from open- to closed-source, with costs remaining high. DeepSeek’s “low-cost + open-source” approach presents a groundbreaking possibility, reshaping the global AI landscape and representing a significant contribution from China to global AI development, according to Chen.

Liu Zhiyuan, an associate professor at Tsinghua University's Department of Computer Science, said that DeepSeek has overcome computing power constraints through powerful algorithmic innovations, achieving a breakthrough despite limited computational resources. This proves that groundbreaking AI advancements with global impact can be achieved even with limited computing power.

In 2024, the “AI+” concept was included in the government work report for the first time, and by the end of 2024, the Central Economic Work Conference emphasized launching the “AI+” initiative to foster future industries.

On a global scale, in October 2023, the Global AI Governance Initiative was put forward to offer China’s proposal and wisdom on how to develop and govern AI.

As China’s AI capabilities reach world-class levels, the country is advancing to the next stage, with AI technology reshaping industry ecosystems across an increasing number of sectors.

Foreign media predict that DeepSeek’s open-source approach will make AI more accessible, driving a surge in AI applications and innovations across various industries as costs continue to drop.

According to Chen, the next crucial step for China’s AI development is the large-scale implementation of AI across industries.

With AI playing a key role in high-quality development, the “low-cost + open-source” model presents a historic opportunity.

Take the automotive industry as an example—smart vehicles are evolving rapidly. XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng said that AI will drive a major transformation in the automotive sector over the next decade, reshaping both hardware and software globally. In the future, intelligent driving will become a standard feature, making smart vehicles accessible to more consumers.

In online literature, AI is assisting writers in refining their work. According to China’s large online literature publisher Yuewen, the independently deployed DeepSeek-R1 model can help authors develop storylines and predict narrative consequences.

In security, the 360 AI security model helps enterprises analyze over 1,000 daily alerts, achieving an accuracy rate of over 85percent in intelligent threat assessments.

In Liu’s view, even with limited resources, China could still achieve great victories. Humanity is on the brink of a major and profound intelligent revolution, and its climax is approaching—an era that is both foreseeable and attainable.

Chen noted that during the AI industry application process, it is essential to further strengthen AI governance. He emphasized the need to pay more attention to fundamental research on large models and generative AI.

From technological breakthroughs to industry empowerment, China is using smart platforms like DeepSeek to create a new paradigm for global AI development, Chen said.