DeepSeek has become a university course

Universities across China this month launched artificial intelligence (AI) courses based on Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, whose recent technological advances have been described as a “Sputnik moment” for China, attracting widespread attention.

The move comes as Chinese authorities aim to promote scientific and technological innovation in schools and universities, creating new sources of growth for the world's second-largest economy.

DeepSeek, a Hangzhou-based startup, has won praise from Silicon Valley executives and engineers at U.S. tech companies, who say its DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1 models are on par with the most advanced developed by OpenAI and Meta.

Shenzhen University in southern China’s Guangdong province announced this week the launch of an artificial intelligence course based on DeepSeek, which will help students understand key technologies as well as issues related to security, privacy, ethics and other challenges.

The course will “explore how to balance technological innovation with ethical norms.” Zhejiang University in eastern China began teaching special courses on DeepSeek in February.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University has integrated DeepSeek to enhance AI learning tools in its courses, as announced on its official WeChat account. Renmin University of China has also implemented DeepSeek in "multiple fields, energizing teaching, research and campus administration," it said.

In January, China released its first national action plan to build a “strong education country” by 2035, aiming to create a “high-quality education system” with accessibility and standards among the best in the world.

DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng attended a rare meeting on Monday with President Xi Jinping and some of China’s top tech figures, including Alibaba.