JOHOR BARU: All newly introduced open-source platforms and apps should undergo evaluations, said Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association chairman Datuk Ahmad Noordin Ismail.
The consumer group has praised the government’s decision to conduct a detailed study on the impact of the China-based artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, DeepSeek.
Ahmad warned against making hasty decisions or jumping to conclusions without carefully weighing the pros and cons.
“We don’t want to follow the US government’s approach of banning TikTok, only to reverse the decision later.
“As for DeepSeek, the government’s decision is sensible, and we should allow them to carry out further research,” he said.
Sharing his personal view, Ahmad Noordin compared DeepSeek to ChatGPT, saying it is faster, capable of deeper searches on specific topics, and offers improved accuracy and volume.
However, he cautioned that such advanced AI platforms could raise concerns, particularly among those unfamiliar with how they work.
“A more advanced system could be harder to understand, leading to confusion or even calls for a ban, as seen in some other countries.
“There may also be higher costs involved, as a more sophisticated AI ecosystem or service could come with a higher price tag,” he said.
Ahmad Noordin also emphasised the importance of assessing the impact of open-source AI on students, particularly for the Education Ministry.
“Relying too much on AI could weaken students’ critical and analytical thinking skills.
“Systems like ChatGPT and DeepSeek should be used as a reference tool, not as a substitute for students solving problems on their own,” he said.
When asked whether the government should ban DeepSeek first and study it later, as some countries have done, Ahmad Noordin said such a move would be unnecessary.
“Some countries have banned DeepSeek simply because it comes from China.
“But the real debate should be about whether it is beneficial or harmful. The government has made the right decision to study it first,” he said.
