When Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek rocketed to the top of the AI race over the weekend, it upended not just a ruthless corporate competition for tech supremacy but a geopolitical one. America was supposed to be the world leader on AI; suddenly, China had a credible claim.

DeepSeek’s latest models, created by a small company with limited resources, are already beating many of the leading AI models in the United States.

How did a little-known Chinese start-up build a powerful new AI model despite restrictions?

DeepSeek's ability to build powerful models more efficiently has put a giant question mark over the US tech industry's approach to AI

The sudden popularity of a Chinese artificial intelligence app called DeepSeek pummeled tech stocks and captivated Silicon Valley on Monday, prompting debate in political and tech industry circles about how the United States can maintain its lead in AI.

Silicon Valley and Washington leaders said the app shows China can challenge the U.S. The Nasdaq lost 3 percent and chipmaker Nvidia shed $589 billion in market capitalization.

The sudden rise of Chinese AI app DeepSeek has leaders in Washington and Silicon Valley grappling with how to keep the U.S. ahead in the crucial technology.

News from China upset U.S. markets Monday and disrupted the frenzy that had built up around artificial intelligence

DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial-intelligence startup that’s just over a year old, has stirred awe and consternation in Silicon Valley after demonstrating AI models that offer comparable performance to the world’s best chatbots at seemingly a fraction of their development cost.