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Chinese Universities Add DeepSeek AI Courses

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

China’s universities are rapidly incorporating courses centered around DeepSeek, a homegrown AI startup that has been hailed as a transformative force in the global AI industry. The move reflects China’s broader push to strengthen its technological and scientific education sector.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• DeepSeek’s rapid rise has driven Chinese universities to expand AI education programs.
• Experts say AI adoption enhances job competitiveness but may displace junior positions.
• Students question whether short AI courses provide enough expertise for career benefits.

Shenzhen University, located in the country’s southern tech hub, recently announced a partnership with Tencent Cloud to introduce a general AI course based on DeepSeek, as first reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The university confirmed that the course will be available to students starting this semester.

Similarly, Zhejiang University in eastern China launched an online course series themed around DeepSeek, open to students, faculty, and the general public. Its first session was held on Monday, as reported by SCMP.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University has also integrated DeepSeek into its AI learning tools, while Renmin University of China stated that it has applied DeepSeek in multiple fields, bringing “new power for teaching and research, campus office,” as reported by Reuters .

The development aligns with China’s recently announced national action plan to build a “strong education nation” by 2035, as noted by Reuters.

DeepSeek , a Hangzhou-based startup, has been widely praised by Silicon Valley executives and U.S. tech engineers, with some stating that its AI models—DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1—are comparable to the most advanced models from OpenAI and Meta.

Its rapid success has been described as a “Sputnik moment” for China, signifying a major breakthrough in the country’s AI development, as noted by The Economic Times .

SCMP reports that Shenzhen University said its course would cover the practical applications of DeepSeek’s model in AI-generated content, language processing, and image recognition.

The course will also address concerns related to security , privacy, and ethics , aiming to “explore how to find a balance between technological innovation and ethical norms,” as reported by Reuters

“The rapid introduction of DeepSeek-related courses in Chinese universities reflects the strong demand for AI from both the market and the public,” said Xu Hui, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany specializing in China’s advanced manufacturing, as reported by SCMP.

“DeepSeek has significantly promoted the application of AI across various sectors of Chinese society, with colleges and universities taking the brunt of the impact,” he added.

However, some students remain skeptical about the long-term benefits of these courses. Chloe Mei, a 24-year-old postgraduate student in Shanghai, expressed interest in taking a DeepSeek-related class but questioned its effectiveness in preparing students for the job market.

“I don’t think one or two courses will give me a very deep understanding or practical mastery of AI technology,” she said as reported by SCMP.

Xu acknowledged the potential challenges of AI’s rapid expansion, noting that while early adoption could improve job market competitiveness, it may also lead to job displacement.

“While promoting AI applications, colleges and scholars should emphasize guiding students to maintain critical thinking and learn to use AI responsibly in their work and research, whether in the humanities or natural sciences,” he said, as reported by SCMP.

Beyond university courses, AI is reshaping education in China through self-study rooms , which provide affordable alternatives to private tutoring.

These rooms are equipped with AI-driven tablets that manage lessons and exercises, helping students identify knowledge gaps and tailor study plans.

The model has gained traction amid government restrictions on tutoring, with experts highlighting both its potential to bridge educational disparities and concerns over engagement levels and effectiveness.

While students and experts recognize the benefits of early exposure to cutting-edge technology, questions remain about the long-term impact on job prospects and the depth of knowledge these courses provide.

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Zayo Reports 82% Surge In DDoS Attacks Due To AI And IoT Expansion

• Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

A new report shared by the American telecommunications company Zayo this Thursday revealed a significant surge of 82% in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks between 2023 and 2024.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• Zayo’s study analyzed and compared cyberattacks across North America and Western Europe, where the company operates.
• Cybersecurity experts noted an 82% surge in DDoS attacks, from 90,000 in 2023 to 165,000 in 2024.
• Experts say the different trends of attacks are likely to continue in 2025.

According to the information shared in the press release , the volume of attacks registered went from 90,000 in 2023 to 165,000 in 2024.

The Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Insights Report published by Zayo states that one of the main reasons for this peak is the use and expansion of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and cybercriminals taking leverage of it.

“As the sophistication of DDoS attacks continues to grow, cybercriminals are finding ways to exploit cloud services, higher bandwidth availability, and new vulnerabilities in software and network protocols,” said Max Clauson, Senior Vice President of Network Connectivity at Zayo. “Both the public and private sector need to invest heavily in DDoS mitigation to continue to protect critical infrastructure and ensure long-term data security.”

The study considered data from Western Europe and North America—where the company operates—and included 17 industries for analysis. One of the most affected sectors in 2024 was the Financial, cybersecurity experts noted an attack increase from 3.5% in 2023 to 7% in 2024, estimating a financial toll of $6,000 per minute

The telecommunications sector remains the most targeted covering 42% of the analyzed attacks. And Healthcare experienced a 223% growth in attacks between both years. The report also highlights hackers’ increasing interest in targeting Cloud and SaaS companies in 2024. Experts said that the trend of attacks is likely to continue in 2025.

Since 2023 other cybersecurity firms like FortiGuard Labs have warned about malicious actors attacking IoT devices and launching devastating DDoS attacks. A recent study published in October last year revealed that cybersecurity professionals have reported increased stress as cyberattacks surge faster than safety measures and resources.