Why US companies are ditching American AI models for Chinese ones - ThePrint

2026-07-15 · Source: artifical intelligence via Google News · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Cost-conscious US companies are increasingly adopting Chinese AI models, such as DeepSeek and Z.ai's GLM-5.2, over American alternatives like Anthropic's Claude and OpenAI's ChatGPT. This shift is driven by significantly lower costs and the 'open-weight' architecture of Chinese models, which allows for greater customization, transparency, and enhanced cybersecurity for sensitive corporate data. For instance, in June, AI startup Lindy migrated 100 percent of its traffic from Claude to DeepSeek, reporting a drastic reduction in costs. Data from OpenRouter indicates that Chinese models have surpassed US models in platform usage. Major companies including DoorDash, Airbnb, and Siemens are also integrating these tools. Experts note that for many workloads, Chinese models offer comparable performance at a fraction of the price, prompting a "wake-up call" for the US tech industry, as stated by US President Donald Trump in 2025.

Key takeaway

For Directors of AI/ML evaluating model deployment strategies, you should actively explore Chinese open-weight models like DeepSeek and Z.ai's GLM-5.2. These alternatives offer significant cost reductions and customization potential compared to premium US models, without sacrificing necessary performance for many workloads. Prioritize assessing their open-weight architecture for enhanced data transparency and security, potentially optimizing your budget and operational flexibility.

Key insights

Chinese open-weight AI models are gaining traction among US companies due to lower costs and enhanced customization capabilities.

Principles

• Cost-effectiveness is a primary driver for AI adoption.
• Open-weight architectures enable deep customization.
• Transparency improves data security and control.

In practice

• Consider DeepSeek or Z.ai's GLM-5.2 for workloads.
• Leverage open-weight models for tailored applications.
• Assess cost savings by shifting from premium models.

Topics

• Chinese AI Models
• Open-weight AI
• DeepSeek
• Z.ai GLM-5.2
• AI Cost Optimization
• Model Customization

Best for: CTO, AI Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Director of AI/ML, VP of Engineering/Data, Executive

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by artifical intelligence via Google News.