U.S. bans AI startup DeepSeek because of ‘threat vectors’ and China responds

China hit back Tuesday at a U.S. ban on Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek’s products for federal civilian agencies, highlighting friction in the two AI powers’ heated technology race. The agencies should remove DeepSeek and its affiliated products, as well as third party products and services developed using DeepSeek, from their IT systems, the Department of Homeland Security said in a notice made public on Monday. The department’s order, dating back to late July, also blocks civilian agencies from procuring DeepSeek products and services. DeepSeek is one of China’s leading and