The Philippines would be in a stronger position to drive economic growth and development by harnessing technological advancements, such as those offered by Chinese startup DeepSeek and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said. 

Gatchalian pointed this out as he expressed his support to the government decision to allow Filipino technologists, researchers in emerging artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, and even ordinary tech-savvy internet users to use and explore the DeepSeek R1 AI chatbot.

Still, Gatchalian said it is imperative for the public to remain vigilant and approach emerging AI and other machine learning technologies with careful consideration and due diligence. 

“These technologies foster innovation, boost productivity and efficiency, and create new industries and job opportunities,” Gatchalian noted.

“However, we must remain vigilant and approach these technologies with careful consideration and due diligence—a stance adopted by other countries with regard to China's DeepSeek,” he said.

“Protecting national sovereignty and security from related threats must be a top priority. Safeguarding our national interests should always take precedence to ensure that technological advancements benefit the entire nation and contribute to sustained economic growth,” the senator reiterated. 

Gatchalian said it is incumbent for every individual to exercise caution whenever using AI platforms. 

“I urge all Filipinos to stay informed, avoid sharing sensitive personal information with AI platforms, and remain updated on government advisories regarding these emerging technologies,” he said. 

Some countries have expressed reservations about the use of DeepSeek, with some accusing it of “excessively” collecting personal data and using all input data to train itself. 

And when it comes to question about national pride, DeepSeek seemingly avoids discussions about issues regarding the Chinese government and Xi Jinping. 

Enrico Paringit, executive director of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), had said there is no immediate danger in using or engaging with DeepSeek R1 large language model (LLM), and saw no need for government to regulate or ban its use.