The obstacle posed to America by China's DeepSeek synthetic intelligence (AI) system is profound, into question the US' total approach to facing China. DeepSeek uses ingenious solutions starting from an initial position of weakness.

America believed that by monopolizing the use and advancement of sophisticated microchips, it would permanently maim China's technological development. In truth, it did not occur. The innovative and resourceful Chinese discovered engineering workarounds to bypass American barriers.

It set a precedent and something to think about. It could take place whenever with any future American innovation