Chinese artificial intelligence models are roughly three to six months behind US versions, and closing fast. That innovation speed is bound to put even more pressure on organizations already struggling against AI-powered cyber threats. But maybe there are a few lessons defenders could learn from the Chinese approach to promote their own advancements amid the escalating cybersecurity AI arms race. DeepSeek and other Chinese AI models are poised to overtake their American counterparts, thanks to a mix of heavy-duty government subsidies, available homegrown talent, practically seamless public-private-academic partnerships, and importantly, leveraging open source, according to new data from Recorded Future’s Insikt Group. “Chinese AI companies like DeepSeek have realized performance gains by innovating and embracing open source,” the Insikt Group report said. “These companies have also become proficient at adopting techniques implemented by US peers and domestic rivals and prioritizing cost efficiency to remain competitive in domestic markets.”

Full report : New research shows China is quickly catching up with the US in AI innovation. Experts weigh in on what it means for cyber defenders.