The U.S. Navy has issued a strict directive barring its personnel from using AI technology developed by China’s DeepSeek, citing security and ethical risks, CNBC reports.
In an internal email sent on Friday, the Navy emphasized that DeepSeek’s AI must not be used “in any capacity” for work-related or personal tasks.
A Navy spokesperson confirmed the memo’s authenticity, stating that the directive aligns with the Department of the Navy’s generative AI policy. The announcement coincided with the rise of DeepSeek’s latest AI model, R1, an advanced reasoning AI that rivals OpenAI’s technology. DeepSeek’s open-source model has quickly gained traction, topping Apple’s App Store rankings and receiving industry-wide recognition for its performance.
The Navy’s internal memo, sent to all personnel via the Operational Navy (OpNav) distribution list, underscored the urgency of avoiding DeepSeek’s AI. The warning was based on an advisory from the Naval Air Warfare Center’s Cyber Workforce Manager, urging members to “refrain from downloading, installing, or using the DeepSeek model in any capacity.”
Meanwhile, DeepSeek briefly restricted user registrations on Monday, citing large-scale cyberattacks on its platform, before resuming normal operations.
