DeepSeek plans to develop its own AI chips to bypass US export controls

According to a Reuters report citing three people familiar with the matter, DeepSeek has been working on a move into silicon for about a year. The company has been meeting with potential partners in the hardware and silicon space and has been hiring engineers for the project. The move is seen as a response to US export controls that restrict Chinese access to advanced semiconductors, which are critical for training and running large language models. DeepSeek has developed LLMs that are competitive with those from US companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, but faces challenges in accessing the latest chips due to export restrictions. By developing its own chips, DeepSeek aims to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers and ensure a stable supply of hardware for its AI workloads.