The release of the new R1 model by China-based AI start-up DeepSeek has a number of important implications for news publishers, cutting across the future economics of AI, the ability of IP holders to protect their rights and the risks that these technologies pose to the broader information ecosystem.

Firstly, on the IP questions. DeepSeek’s training data was obtained without authorisation or even transparency; the crawlers it is using are undeclared, third-party or hidden. It is safe to assume that it will not be facing legal action in China for breach of copyright.

This makes it harder for the West – and the US in particular – to take a strong line on copyright when it comes to model training. The importance of retaining AI supremacy is universally understood and acknowledged in Washington across both sides of the political divide.