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Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek Exposes Sensitive Data Online, Says Cybersecurity Firm Wiz

AI Startup DeepSeek

New York-based cybersecurity firm Wiz has discovered a significant data exposure from Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek, revealing a trove of sensitive information inadvertently left unsecured on the open internet.

In a blog post published Wednesday, Wiz reported that scans of DeepSeek’s infrastructure uncovered over a million lines of unprotected data, including digital software keys and chat logs containing user prompts to the company’s free AI assistant.

According to Wiz’s Chief Technology Officer, Ami Luttwak, DeepSeek acted swiftly to secure the exposed data after being alerted. “They took it down in less than an hour,” Luttwak said. “But this was so simple to find that we believe we’re not the only ones who came across it.”

DeepSeek has yet to respond to requests for comment on the incident.

The breach comes amid DeepSeek’s rapid rise in the AI industry, capturing China’s attention while raising concerns in the U.S. over competition with American tech giants. The company’s AI assistant has gained traction at an astonishing pace, challenging the business models of firms like Nvidia and Microsoft with its cost-effective alternative to OpenAI’s technology.

By Monday, DeepSeek had surpassed U.S. rival ChatGPT in downloads from Apple’s App Store, contributing to a global selloff in tech stocks.

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