US holds ‘ban list’ that names company whose low-cost AI model shocked tech industry

The US is taking its time to blacklist Chinese AI firm DeepSeek, despite initial approval to do so last year. DeepSeek's groundbreaking low-cost AI model has rattled the tech industry and raised alarms about its alleged ties to China's military, sparking heightened US-China tech tensions. This delay affects over 100 firms and reflects the Commerce Department's careful strategy to navigate the fraught relationship without escalating conflicts. The situation underscores the growing rivalry between the US and China in the tech sector, with implications for global innovation and security.