DeepSeek Limits Registrations Following Malicious Cyberattacks

Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek has temporarily restricted new user registrations after experiencing large-scale cyberattacks on its services. The company, which recently gained attention for developing a rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, announced the move on its status page, citing a need to protect service quality for existing users.

 

“Due to large-scale malicious attacks on DeepSeek’s services, we are temporarily limiting registrations to ensure continued service,” the company stated. “Existing users can log in as usual. Thanks for your understanding and support.”

 

DeepSeek declined to comment on the source of the attacks, but the disruption follows a surge in interest after its new AI assistant surpassed ChatGPT in popularity on Apple’s App Store earlier this week.

 

The startup’s recent release of its R1 reasoning model – a rival to OpenAI’s proprietary model – has further heightened its profile. Unlike OpenAI, DeepSeek has made its technology open-source, allowing developers to freely integrate it into their own products.

 

Despite being a relatively new entrant in the AI market, DeepSeek’s advancements have sparked significant global interest, with its rapid rise even influencing stock prices among US tech giants.

 

The incident highlights the growing security risks faced by AI companies. OpenAI, the leading US-based AI developer, has faced its own cybersecurity challenges, including phishing attacks and the reported theft of sensitive internal data in 2023.

 

The security of AI technologies remains a key concern, especially as competition intensifies. DeepSeek’s decision to limit registrations underscores the vulnerabilities AI startups face as they navigate the challenges of rapid growth and increasing cyber threats.

 

For now, the company says it is focused on ensuring uninterrupted service for its users while working to resolve the ongoing issues.