Chinese universities integrate DeepSeek AI to drive tech innovation

This month, universities in China are experiencing an artificial intelligence breakthrough, a ‘Sputnik moment’ for China, based on DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup that has attracted much attention.

The move comes as Chinese authorities aim to boost scientific and technological innovation in schools and universities that could create new sources of growth for the world’s second-largest economy.

DeepSeek, a Hangzhou-based startup, has been showered with praise by Silicon Valley executives and US tech company engineers, who say its DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1 models are on par with the most advanced models from OpenAI and Meta.

Shenzhen University in the southern province of Guangdong said this week that it has launched an artificial intelligence course based on DeepSeek, which will help students learn about security, privacy, ethics, and other challenges, as well as the underlying technologies.

‘How to strike a balance between technological innovation and ethical norms will be explored,’ it said.

Zhejiang University in eastern China announced in February that it had started organizing special DeepSeek courses.

Jiao Tong University in Shanghai said on its official WeChat account that it uses DeepSeek to upgrade AI learning tools in its courses. Renmin University of China has also applied DeepSeek ‘in multiple fields, injecting new power for teaching and research, campus office.’

In January, China released its first national action plan to build a ‘strong education nation’ by 2035, saying it aims to establish a ‘high-quality education system’ with accessibility and quality ‘among the best in the world.’

DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng attended a rare meeting on Monday with President Xi Jinping and some of the biggest names in China’s tech sector, such as Alibaba.