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Finance Ministry directs officers not to use AI models like ChatGPT, DeepSeek flagging data risk concerns

The move comes at a time when countries like Australia and Italy have shielded their official systems from Chinese DeepSeek over privacy and data safety concerns.

Deepseek Chat GPT finance ministry order

In a communication last month to all its departments, the ministry said AI tools/AI apps in office devices may be strictly avoided. (Express File Photo)

Amid rapidly growing popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, the Finance Ministry has directed its employees to “strictly” avoid use of such tools and “like ChatGPT and DeepSeek” in office computers and devices over concerns pertaining to confidentiality of government documents and data. The directive was issued by the Finance Ministry’s Department of Expenditure on January 29, it is learnt.

“It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek etc) in the office computers and devices pose risks for confidentiality of Govt data and documents,” the directive is learnt to have said.

“It is, therefore, advised that use of AI tools/AI apps in office devices may be strictly avoided. This may be brought to the notice of all employees,” the directive is understood to have said.

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A few other countries have already acted to protect their official systems from AI tools, particularly Chinese foundational model DeepSeek, over privacy and data security concerns.

On Wednesday, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, which developed the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, said that India is now the second-biggest market for OpenAI, and the company’s user base in the country has trebled in the last year. Altman is on an India visit for meetings with top government officials, start-ups and venture capital funds.

Altman’s visit coincides with the meteoric rise in popularity of DeepSeek, a foundational model created by a Chinese AI lab at a fraction of cost of OpenAI’s which is said to match the firm’s models on many fronts. DeepSeek’s model has shown to the world that cutting edge foundational models could be built at cheaper costs, unlike the huge investments that have gone into making OpenAI’s models.

Sukalp Sharma

Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More

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