China is using DeepSeek AI in non-combat roles—battlefield integration next?
What's the story
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is using domestically developed DeepSeek AI to improve its non-combat and support operations. This has led defense experts to speculate about the use of artificial intelligence in direct warfare. The PLA's Central Theater Command General Hospital recently announced the integration of DeepSeek's R1-70B large language model (LLM) into its operations, helping doctors with treatment plans while ensuring patient privacy and data security.
Healthcare integration
DeepSeek AI's role in PLA hospitals and beyond
DeepSeek's LLMs are already being used in PLA hospitals, the People's Armed Police (PAP), and national defense mobilization units. Other PLA hospitals across China, including the prestigious '301 Hospital' in Beijing where senior Chinese officials and military officers are treated, have also adopted similar technologies. Ren Hao, a senior software engineer at 301 Hospital, revealed on CHIMA website they are working with Huawei to deploy DeepSeek-R1 model on Ascend hardware to build a local knowledge database.
Training support
Involvement in PLA training and psychological support
Notably, some PAP units are utilizing DeepSeek for physical training and psychological support. The political work department of the Hainan PAP shared a social media post showing soldiers using DeepSeek to cope with anxiety and design exercise plans. This comes as Beijing pushes for AI integration in various sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, urban development, and anti-corruption efforts in government agencies.
Future applications
Potential in military decision-making
Experts recommend that by first deploying LLMs in non-combat situations, the PLA can tackle technical and operational challenges before venturing into more sensitive, high-risk domains. Chinese state media has claimed that DeepSeek is playing an increasingly important role in the military's push for intelligentization. The state-run Guangming Daily emphasized DeepSeek's ability to process massive amounts of battlefield data in real time, offering precise situational awareness during combat and helping commanders with quicker decision-making.