A new report by online analysis firm Graphika reveals that Chinese state-affiliated social media accounts actively promoted the launch of DeepSeek AI ahead of a sharp decline in U.S. technology stocks. These accounts, including those of Chinese diplomats, embassies, and state media, amplified narratives celebrating DeepSeek’s advancements, portraying them as a challenge to U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence.
The promotional efforts appeared on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, as well as Chinese services like Weibo and Toutiao. According to Graphika, this coordinated activity is part of China’s broader strategy to shape online narratives and highlight Beijing’s progress in key technological fields.
Graphika also linked DeepSeek-related content to previously identified Chinese influence campaigns, including the Shadow Play operation, which has spread pro-China and anti-Western messaging across YouTube and other platforms. The report found a small spike in discussions about DeepSeek’s AI model on X immediately after its January 20 launch, followed by a significant surge over the weekend.
By Monday, DeepSeek’s AI assistant had surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in Apple App Store downloads, coinciding with a sell-off in U.S. tech stocks that erased $593 billion from Nvidia’s market value in a single day—the largest loss in Wall Street history.
The U.S. government has raised concerns over DeepSeek’s access to restricted AI chips. The Commerce Department is currently investigating whether the company has used unauthorized U.S. technology, amid allegations—so far unproven—that it improperly accessed advancements from OpenAI and other industry leaders.