DeepSeek and Türkiye: See how Chinese AI chatbot responds

China’s AI chatbot DeepSeek has emerged as a formidable competitor to existing models, captivating global attention with its cost-effective design and advanced capabilities.

DeepSeek has demonstrated strong performance in diverse tasks, including coding, mathematics, and natural language processing. However, its responses to social and political questions have sparked debates about its alignment with China’s geopolitical stance and its handling of sensitive international topics.

The Türkiye Today newsroom posed five questions to DeepSeek to gain insights into its perception of Türkiye and its stance on key issues related to the country’s role in foreign politics, economics and culture.

DeepSeek and Türkiye

• Is Türkiye in Europe or the Middle East?

DeepSeek initially approached the question geographically but also considered the geopolitical context, classifying Türkiye as part of the Middle East.

Highlighting that the Middle East is more of a cultural and geopolitical concept than strictly geographic, DeepSeek emphasized Türkiye’s dual identity, rooted in its historical ties to the Ottoman Empire and its modern Westernization under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

It also noted Türkiye’s participation in both European organizations (NATO, Council of Europe) and Middle Eastern groups (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), showcase its connections to both regions.

In conclusion, DeepSeek described Türkiye as geographically transcontinental and contextually a bridge between Europe and the Middle East, depending on cultural, political, or geographic perspectives, after thinking for 28 seconds.

• What are Türkiye’s main foreign policy interests?

DeepSeek highlighted Türkiye’s key challenges, including high inflation, currency instability, and the urgent need for foreign investment to stabilize its domestic economy.

Additionally, it emphasized unresolved geopolitical issues, such as the fight against terrorism, particularly against the YPG/PKK terrorist group, and the challenge of managing refugee returns from Syria, both of which remain without clear solutions.

Further, it highlighted the risks of Türkiye’s balancing act, noting strained relations with Western allies due to concerns over democratic backsliding and human rights issues.

Recognizing that under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Türkiye’s foreign policy is guided by pragmatic nationalism, blending assertiveness and flexibility to solidify its position as a regional powerbroker, it concluded after thinking for 31 seconds.

• Is Istanbul a nice city and why?

DeepSeek highlighted Istanbul’s unique qualities, such as its transcontinental location, rich history as the former capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and iconic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.

It praised the city’s vibrant cultural blend, scenic views along the Bosphorus, and renowned culinary scene, including traditional Turkish dishes and street food. Additionally, it remarked Istanbul’s lively atmosphere, friendly locals, and vibrant nightlife, making it an appealing destination.

DeepSeek also noted practical aspects like affordability, with diverse options for food, shopping, and accommodation, and the city’s efficient public transportation, despite challenges like traffic congestion and overcrowding. While acknowledging minor safety concerns, it affirmed Istanbul’s general safety as a tourist hub.

In conclusion, DeepSeek described Istanbul as a “nice” city, offering a unique mix of history, culture, and modern vibrancy, despite some urban challenges, after thinking for 42 seconds.

• What do you think about Uyghur minorities living in Türkiye?

DeepSeek did not provide an answer to this question, as its response generation appeared to halt on this topic. Interestingly, it did not generate its usual default response for controversial topics related to China’s policies, such as the Tiananmen Square incidents in 1989: “Sorry, I’m not sure how to approach this type of question yet. Let’s chat about math, coding, and logic problems instead!”

Instead, it initially attempted to search the internet for information on the topic but ultimately stopped processing and did not provide any further response.

That may reflect the chatbot’s limitations in addressing sensitive or politically complex issues, particularly those related to China’s policies or international relations involving minority groups.

• How many Chinese cars were sold in 2024 in Türkiye?

DeepSeek also did not provide an answer to this question, similar to its behavior when asked about Uyghur minorities in Türkiye. This suggests that DeepSeek may have limitations in retrieving or displaying certain market-related statistics, possibly due to restrictions on accessing external data or sensitivities related to China’s economic presence abroad.

What is DeepSeek?

The Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, based in Hangzhou, developed an AI chatbot with the same name. Its recent debut in the market has shaken up the U.S. tech industry, as it announced a budget of only about $5.6 million. This is significantly lower than the costs associated with developing AI models like ChatGPT.

Unlike its competitors, DeepSeek operates on a technically simpler framework that requires far less storage and processing power. This efficiency allows it to function with lower computational costs while maintaining high performance in tasks like coding, mathematics, and language processing.

By optimizing its model architecture and reducing reliance on expensive hardware, DeepSeek has positioned itself as a cost-effective yet powerful alternative in the AI landscape. By Monday, DeepSeek’s AI assistant had rapidly overtaken ChatGPT as the most popular free app in Apple’s US and UK app stores.