DeepSeek Plans to Develop Its Own AI Chips Amid US Export Restrictions

Chinese startup DeepSeek, which develops large language models competitive with those from US firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic, is planning to enter the semiconductor business. According to Reuters, the company has been working on this initiative for about a year, meeting with potential hardware and silicon partners and hiring engineers for the project. The move is a response to US export controls that limit China's access to advanced chips, prompting DeepSeek to pursue in-house chip development to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.