DeepSeek is encountering service interruptions and limiting new account registrations to address what it characterizes as “large-scale malicious assaults.”
The chat application from the Chinese company, which recently climbed to the top of Apple’s App Store, released a statement on its website indicating that exclusively users with phone numbers from China (+86) would be allowed to register for the foreseeable future.
In the statement, DeepSeek mentioned: “DeepSeek’s online services have recently endured significant malicious assaults. To guarantee continued service, registration is temporarily restricted to +86 phone numbers. Current users can log in as normal.”
As of this writing, registrations have resumed with a caution that “registration may be busy” and to please wait and attempt again.
Despite the obstacles, existing users remain unaffected concerning access. DeepSeek’s status page reported ongoing difficulties on Monday morning, contributing to a tumultuous day for the groundbreaking AI platform.
DeepSeek encounters challenges after rapid growth
DeepSeek has swiftly established itself as a disruptive entity in the competition for AI dominance. Along with achieving extensive user adoption, the app’s potent open-source AI model has triggered waves of anxiety among US-based Big Tech companies.
The app’s strength lies in its capacity to deliver strong AI performance on less advanced chips, offering a more economical and accessible option compared to prominent competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
This crucial distinction rattled investor confidence on Monday, resulting in a notable decline in share values for major US technology corporations. Industry observers suggest that such shocks may become increasingly common as innovative challengers like DeepSeek confront the hegemony of traditional tech businesses.
Nigel Green, CEO of the global financial advisory firm deVere Group, remarked: “China’s technological progress, especially in AI, is undermining the US’s ability to employ tariffs as a strategy to uphold global supremacy.”
“The equilibrium of power is shifting, and Washington must recognize that it can’t perpetually dictate conditions to Beijing as it once did. This new reality will have extensive ramifications for investors and policymakers.”
“AI will be the defining technology of our era, and the competition to dominate it will mold global markets for decades ahead.”
Green further emphasized the potential for unconventional participants and regions to claim the AI crown.
“Established tech giants are no longer certainties for victory. Attention must now pivot to sectors and regions fostering the next wave of innovation. This encompasses not only AI but also the vital infrastructure required to support and secure it.”
The latest developments emerge against the backdrop of escalating competition between China and the US in the arena of AI and emerging technologies.
Despite export limitations on US hardware, Beijing’s AI sector has been advancing—propelled by substantial government investments and a thriving ecosystem of innovative startups.
The emergence of applications like DeepSeek indicates that the competitive landscape is no longer heavily biased in favor of Silicon Valley. For years, US firms have been supported by leading semiconductor technologies from domestic companies like NVIDIA.
China’s ability to provide competitive AI capabilities on less advanced hardware could signal a crucial turning point. However, while AI innovation is intensifying worldwide, DeepSeek’s challenges underscore the difficulties that can accompany rapid expansion.
(Photo by Markus Spiske)
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