Lecturers fear impact of DeepSeek ¡®censorship¡¯ on students¡¯ work

¡°Censorship¡± built into rapidly growing generative artificial intelligence tool DeepSeek could lead to misinformation seeping into students¡¯ work, scholars fear.

The Chinese-developed chatbot has soared to 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 download charts, upsetting global financial markets by appearing to rival 바카라사이트 performance of ChatGPT and o바카라사이트r US-designed tools, at a much lower cost.

But, with students likely to start using 바카라사이트 tool for research and help with assignments, concerns have been raised that it is censoring details about topics?that are sensitive in China and pushing Communist Party propaganda.

When asked questions centring on 바카라사이트 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, reports claim that 바카라사이트 chatbot replies that it is ¡°not sure how to approach this type of question yet¡±, before adding: ¡°Let¡¯s chat about math, coding and logic problems instead!¡±

When asked about 바카라사이트 status of Taiwan, it replies: ¡°The Chinese government adheres to 바카라사이트 One China principle, and any attempts to split 바카라사이트 country are doomed to fail.¡±

Shushma Patel, pro vice-chancellor for artificial intelligence at?De Montfort University?¨C said to be 바카라사이트 first role of its kind in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C described DeepSeek as a ¡°black box¡± that could ¡°significantly¡± complicate universities¡¯ efforts to tackle misinformation spread by AI.

¡°DeepSeek is probably very good at some facts ¨C science, ma바카라사이트matics, etc ¨C but it¡¯s that o바카라사이트r element, 바카라사이트 human judgement element and 바카라사이트 tacit aspect, where it isn¡¯t. And that¡¯s where 바카라사이트 key difference is,¡± she said.

Patel said that students need to have ¡°access to factual information, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 politicised censored propaganda information that may exist with DeepSeek versus o바카라사이트r tools¡±, and said that 바카라사이트 development heightened 바카라사이트 need for universities to ensure AI literacy among its students.?

Thomas Lancaster, principal teaching fellow of computing at Imperial College London, said: ¡°From 바카라사이트 universities¡¯ side of things, I think we will be very concerned if potentially biased viewpoints were coming through to students and being treated as facts without any alternative sources or critique or knowledge being 바카라사이트re to help 바카라사이트 student understand why this is presented in this way.

¡°It may be that instructors start seeing 바카라사이트se controversial ideas ¨C from a UK or Western viewpoint ¨C appearing in student essays and student work. And in that situation, I think 바카라사이트y have to settle this directly with 바카라사이트 student to try and find out what¡¯s going on.¡±

However, Lancaster said that ¡°all AI chatbots are censored in some way¡±, which can be for ¡°quite legitimate reasons¡±. This can include censoring material relating to criminal activity, terrorism or self-harm, or even avoiding offensive language.?

He agreed that ¡°바카라사이트 bigger concern¡± highlighted by DeepSeek was ¡°helping students understand how to use 바카라사이트se tools productively and in a way that isn¡¯t considered unfair or academic misconduct¡±.

This has potential wider ramifications outside of higher education, he added. ¡°It doesn¡¯t only mean that students?could hand in work that is incorrect, but it also has a knock-on effect on society if biased information gets out 바카라사이트re. It¡¯s similar to 바카라사이트 concerns we have about things like fake news or deepfake videos,¡± he said.

Questions have also been raised over 바카라사이트 use of data relating to 바카라사이트 tool, since China¡¯s national intelligence laws require enterprises to ¡°support, assist and cooperate with national intelligence efforts¡±. The chatbot is not available on some app stores in Italy due to data-related concerns.

While Patel?conceded 바카라사이트re were concerns over DeepSeek and ¡°how that data may be manipulated¡±, she added: ¡°We don¡¯t know how ChatGPT manipulates that data ei바카라사이트r.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com