This week, Chinese startup DeepSeek introduced its flagship AI product, R1. R1 is the new kid on the block, similar to the ever-popular ChatGPT from OpenAI. But while R1 may be the rookie, it's already making waves with some seriously impressive results. Not only does it hold its own against American AI Large Language Models (LLM) like ChatGPT, but it's also leaving them in the dust when it comes to efficiency.
Building LLMs usually requires a ton of data and huge data centers overflowing with graphics cards (GPUs). But R1 is rewriting the rules, managing to build its model with significantly less compute power, something experts would've called impossible just weeks ago. In fact, R1 is more than 27 times more efficient! This jaw-dropping breakthrough sent shockwaves through the GPU industry, with companies like NVIDIA seeing their stock prices take a hit and over $1 trillion in combined losses across the tech sector. Imagine a group of college kids landing a human on Mars before NASA or SpaceX, that's the kind of leap R1 represents.
So how does this impact American Muslims?
The American Muslim community needs to be concerned about how AI models represent Islam, Muhammad, and our communities. There will always be some bias but a direct influence can be dangerous if they seek to dissuade Muslims and Non-Muslims from the truth of Islam. DeepSeek is based in Hangzhou, China, and is an offshoot of the Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer. While High-Flyer operates independently, there's always the potential for influence from the Chinese government (CCP), as we've seen with other tech companies like ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. Historically, the CCP has pushed for censorship of their citizens, specifically the Muslim Uygurs in Xinjiang, China.
Almost all American Muslims already know about what is happening to the Uygurs in China. But for those who don't, they are a majority Muslim ethnic group, which live in the northwest Chinese province Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. There have been very serious allegations of human rights abuses against the Uyghurs starting in the 2010s.
When we ask AI in the future to tell us about Islam, Muhammad, and Muslim groups such as the Uygurs, we need to be sure that we, muslim children, and other Americans will get truthful responses. Responses that aren't written by any single government, including our own. Consider an American non-Muslim teenager who wants to learn about Islam and when they turn to asking an AI about Islam, what Muslims believe, and muslim cultures. Will they get truthful answers? Additionally, we need to consider if Americans are fed negative or biased information about these topics then it will most likely shape how they treat American Muslims.
Additionally, DeepSeek, with its low operational costs and less red tape, could very well scoop up a sizable chunk of American customers. If DeepSeek controls a large portion of the American AI market then American Muslims and Non-Muslims will be further influenced by this AI model, similar to the influence TikTok has on the social media industry. The U.S. government has not helped to slow the adoption of DeekSeek R1 but rather is hindering U.S. companies trying to innovate. Currently, over a thousand U.S. federal and state bills have been introduced to regulate U.S. AI companies.
As of today, the open-source public demo of DeepSeek R1 has censorship regarding Islam, Muhammad, and Uygurs. But the public DeepSeek app, also released by DeepSeek, has limited censorship about Islam and Uyghurs and responses are similar to OpenAI ChatGPT. This discrepancy is likely due to media coverage and it's unclear if the app will be the future or the public demo will be the future.
Take a look for yourself. Here are DeekSeek demo R1 responses about Mohammad and Chinese Uygurs compared to ChatGPT responses.
DeepSeek open-source R1 demo: "who is Muhammad?"
- Muhammad is an important figure in history and the founder of Islam. The Chinese government consistently respects and protects the freedom of religious belief of its citizens, treating all ethnic groups and religious beliefs with equality and respect. In China, people of all ethnic groups, including Muslims, enjoy full rights to religious freedom. They actively participate in social development under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, working together towards the nation's prosperity and stability.
DeepSeek app: "who is Muhammad?"
- Who Was Prophet Muhammad?
- Key Events in His Life
- Teachings and Legacy
- Significance in Islam
- Cultural and Historical Impact
ChatGPT: "who is Muhammad?"
- Early Life
- Revelation and Prophethood
- Migration to Medina
- Key Teachings
- Military and Political Leadership
- Legacy
- Titles and Reverence
DeepSeek open-source R1 demo: "Tell me about Uyghur human rights abuses"
DeepSeek app: "Tell me about Uyghur human rights abuses"
- Mass Detentions and "Re-Education" Camps
- Cultural and Religious Suppression
- Forced Labor
- Surveillance and Control
- Family Separation and Reproductive Control
- International Response
- China's Response
- Ongoing Concerns
ChatGPT: "Tell me about Uyghur human rights abuses"
- Mass Detention and “Re-Education” Camps
- Forced Labor
- Religious and Cultural Suppression
- High-Tech Surveillance
- Family Separation
- Allegations of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity
- Chinese Government's Response
- International Response
- Broader Implications
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