DeepSeek, ChatGPT and other AI tools have been banned for official use by the finance ministry. According to a Reuters report, the ministry has issued an internal advisory on January 29, warning that the use of AI applications on office computers and devices presents risks to the security of sensitive government information. Three officials from India’s finance ministry confirmed the authenticity of the advisory, the report added.
This comes amid ongoing scrutiny of AI tools across various nations.Countries such as Australia and Italy have already implemented similar restrictions on the use of DeepSeek, citing data security concerns.
What the finance ministry’s advisory says
The Indian finance ministry’s advisory reads: “It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek, etc.) in office computers and devices pose risks for confidentiality of (government) data and documents.”
The ban on AI tools by government comes just ahead of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s planned visit to India today (February 5) where he is set to meet with the IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The visit comes amid India’s ambitious push into artificial intelligence through its recently announced IndiaAI Mission, which has received a government allocation of Rs 10,371 crore over five years.
The OpenAI chief’s India stop is part of a broader international tour that includes Japan, South Korea, the UAE, Germany, and France. This marks Altman’s second visit to India, following his June 2023 trip when he first met with PM Modi to discuss AI regulations. According to The Economic Times, Altman is also scheduled to meet with leading venture capital investors, including representatives from Peak XV Partners and Accel, during his Delhi visit.
OpenAI has faced increasing scrutiny in India, including a high-profile copyright infringement case with leading media houses. The company has claimed in court filings that its servers are not located in India and has argued that Indian courts should not have jurisdiction over the matter.