The Commerce Department has launched a probe into whether Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek obtained restricted Nvidia chips through Singapore, reports say.

Powerful artificial intelligence software from Chinese startup DeepSeek indicates that its engineers built a competitive model despite US attempts to curtail China’s tech development, raising questions about the effectiveness of Washington’s trade curbs.

In a surprising twist, Deepseek's cost-effective AI solution has rattled the stock market, raising eyebrows and sparking intense scrutiny from U.S. officials.