AI Photo: VCG

The AI dark horse DeepSeek has sent an earthquake across the tech world and beyond. Developed by locally-educated Chinese engineers at the cost of only $6 million, this high-performing AI model has startled its US competitors, as it rivals leading AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT in capability while being open-source. 

Unlike close-source AI models fueled by monopolized chips, exorbitant training costs and restrictive pricing, DeepSeek made its source codes and training data transparent with a view to empowering businesses and accelerating innovation. 

DeepSeek has rapidly transformed industries. The model is incorporated into digital systems of leading domestic companies in smart manufacturing, power grids, hospitals and governments. It has even entered into cooperation with US tech giants like NVIDIA and Amazon.

Being open-source, the model represents a boost to technological advancement. With millions of users worldwide continuously generating real-world training data, and interested global developers synergistically refining its architecture, DeepSeek decentralizes AI capabilities and provides humanity with an accelerator for progress.

The story of DeepSeek challenges the notion that innovation must be exclusionary, and delivers a paradigm shift: Technology need not thrive on scarcity, but flourishes through openness.

Ancient wisdom echoes through the centuries

DeepSeek's success embodies a philosophy rooted in Chinese ethos throughout the nation's development over thousands of years. That is: Progress thrives on openness and sharing.

This philosophy is embedded in China's cultural DNA. The invention of paper and the movable type printing system in ancient China made the dissemination of knowledge economically feasible. The monopoly on knowledge collapsed, and ordinary people could more easily afford education and participate in the knowledge-making process. That ultimately gave rise to significant advancements in human civilization. 

China's modern contributions - from shared bikes and high-speed rail, to QR code payment and online shopping, as well as open-source AI platforms like DeepSeek - all resonate with this centuries-old tradition, making modern services more affordable and accessible to all while empowering economic growth. 

The wisdom of this philosophy has proven even truer when tested against opposing experiences. China's painful lesson of falling behind while isolating itself from the world in the late Qing Dynasty (1636-1911) serves as a stark reminder that it is openness, not isolation, that fuels lasting growth.

Closed doors cost dearly

Just as collaborative coding accelerates AI breakthroughs, global prosperity hinges on dismantling barriers rather than building walls. Protectionism, in tech or trade, is a self-defeating spiral. 

The US sees chip bans and TikTok crackdowns as safeguards for its global supremacy. However, these measures have largely backfired, not just failing to choke China's technological advance but spurring Chinese enterprises to double down on independent innovation and develop alternative solutions with less dependence on high-end chips. This has led to significant breakthroughs in low-cost, high-performance AI technologies. The rise of DeepSeek is a case in point.

Trade barriers are also economic dead ends. Past statistics show that the cost of hiking tariffs is paid by manufacturing jobs, meanwhile, consumers are forced to pay more for fewer choices. Anti-subsidy levies on Chinese EVs, which lack factual basis, risk undermining one's own efforts toward a green transition. The global economy will also suffer, as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned that "rising trade tensions and further moves towards protectionism might disrupt supply chains, raise consumer prices and negatively impact growth" in 2025 and beyond.

Openness is an engine for shared progress

China's meteoric rise from poverty to a tech powerhouse over the past four decades owes much to its integration into the global trading system. Following this logic, China is poised to open even wider to the world. The latest government work report the Chinese premier delivered at the national legislature affirmed China's commitment to expanding higher-standard opening up and stabilizing foreign trade and investment.

The commitment is already bearing fruits. New opening-up policies continue to impress. According to a recently released action plan aimed at stabilizing foreign investment, in 2024, the actual use of foreign capital rose to 11.7 percent in high-tech manufacturing. Building on its full embrace of the manufacturing sector, the action plan promises even greater access for foreign investors in sectors such as telecommunication, medical services, education and beyond. In the past year, China's visa-free transit policies for 54 nations spurred an 86.2 percent rise in inbound trips. International travelers are spotted everywhere in China now, from bustling coastal cities to remote inland villages. While the US busies itself with tariff hikes and visa restrictions, China has shortened its foreign investment negative list and provided millions of travelers with seamless access and exceptional experiences. This contrast serves as a powerful reminder of the benefits of an open and inclusive approach.

As the global community faces challenges and uncertainties, the principles of openness, shared progress and mutual benefit championed by China can serve as a guiding light. The success of companies like DeepSeek further underscores the importance of minimizing barriers and maximizing cooperation. Ultimately, it is through these efforts that we will be able to build a more equitable, interconnected and prosperous world for all.

The author is a Beijing-based international affairs commentator. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn