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South Korea Blocks DeepSeek Amid Security Concerns, Following Global Warnings

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South Korea’s industry ministry has temporarily blocked employee access to the Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek due to security concerns, marking the latest move by governments to restrict the use of certain AI services. A ministry official confirmed on Wednesday that the ban was implemented in response to growing apprehension surrounding generative AI technologies.

On Tuesday, the South Korean government issued a notice urging caution among ministries and agencies regarding the use of AI services such as DeepSeek and ChatGPT in work-related tasks. The notice followed earlier actions by state-run entities, with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power confirming it had blocked access to DeepSeek earlier this month.

The country’s defense ministry also took action, blocking access to DeepSeek on military computers, while the foreign ministry restricted its use on devices connected to external networks, according to Yonhap News Agency. However, the foreign ministry did not provide further details regarding the specific security measures taken.

DeepSeek, which was not immediately available for comment, joins a growing list of companies facing scrutiny over potential security risks. Both Australia and Taiwan have recently banned the AI service from government devices, citing similar security concerns. In January, Italy’s data protection authority ordered DeepSeek to block its chatbot after the company failed to address privacy issues raised by regulators.

In addition to government actions, private companies in South Korea are also taking precautions. Kakao Corp, a major South Korean chat app operator, instructed employees to refrain from using DeepSeek due to security fears, particularly following its partnership with OpenAI. Other South Korean tech giants, including SK Hynix and Naver, have also restricted or limited access to generative AI services, citing concerns about data security and privacy.

The scrutiny of DeepSeek follows the company’s claim that its AI models are on par with or superior to products developed in the U.S., while being significantly cheaper to produce. South Korea’s information privacy watchdog has announced plans to inquire with DeepSeek about its user data management practices, adding another layer of regulatory attention on the Chinese startup.

 

Arm Lowers Full-Year Forecast, Shares Fall 6%

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Arm Holdings has revised its full-year revenue guidance downward, announcing that it will no longer meet the top end of its previous forecast. The chip technology provider, which has benefitted from the AI boom, reported a slight miss on its broader revenue expectations, sending its shares down by about 6% in extended trading.

Arm narrowed its revenue guidance for the full year to a range of $3.94 billion to $4.04 billion, down from the previous range of $3.8 billion to $4.1 billion. The company also adjusted its earnings per share forecast. Despite this, the company surpassed Wall Street’s expectations for the current quarter, with a forecast of $1.23 billion in revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter, compared to an analyst estimate of $1.22 billion.

CEO Rene Haas explained that the downward revision was due to the company being near the end of its fiscal year, providing more visibility on its final figures. Investors had been hoping for a more optimistic outlook, particularly with Arm’s technology being adopted for AI server chips and the increasing use of its higher royalty rate Armv9 design for smartphones.

Arm’s third-quarter revenue rose by 19% to $983 million, exceeding analysts’ expectations. The company continues to benefit from its widespread use in smartphones, including Apple’s latest iPhone, where its Armv9 chips are used. However, Arm faces challenges as it attempts to compete with its largest customers by raising prices and increasing royalties. Recently, the company encountered a setback in its attempt to secure higher royalties from Qualcomm, with the dispute culminating in a court case.

Arm’s participation in the U.S. government’s $500-billion AI infrastructure venture, Stargate, highlights its significance in the AI space. However, the company’s strained relationship with major customers like Qualcomm remains a challenge as it seeks to grow in new markets such as data centers.

 

Qualcomm Forecasts Strong Q2, Shares Drop After Licensing Outlook

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Qualcomm exceeded analysts’ expectations for Q1 sales and adjusted profits but forecast a more tempered outlook for its patent licensing business, sending its stock price down 4.8% in after-hours trading. The company reported Q1 sales of $11.67 billion and adjusted earnings of $3.41 per share, significantly outperforming the expected $10.93 billion and $2.96 per share. For the upcoming fiscal second quarter, Qualcomm projected sales of $10.75 billion and adjusted profits of $2.80 per share, both surpassing analysts’ expectations.

However, the company warned that its patent licensing business, which generates revenue from companies paying royalties for 5G technology, would not see growth this year after a deal with Huawei expired. This news caused some investor concern, despite positive projections in Qualcomm’s chip business. Licensing revenue for Q2 is forecasted at $1.35 billion, below the $1.43 billion analysts anticipated.

The market’s response was mixed, with Qualcomm’s shares dropping by 4.8% after the announcement. Investors have been closely monitoring Qualcomm’s involvement in the AI and smartphone markets, and while the company continues to secure major deals, such as with Samsung and Microsoft, the uncertain future of its Huawei agreement looms large.

Despite the dip in licensing revenue expectations, Qualcomm’s position in the smartphone, automotive, and IoT markets continues to strengthen. The company reported strong handset revenue of $7.57 billion, up 13% from the previous year, and its automotive chip sales saw significant growth, reaching $961 million.