Driven by technological advancements and growing market acceptance, artificial intelligence has established itself as a strategic element for companies in Brazil. According to a survey by IPSOS and Google, 54% of Brazilians used generative AI in 2024, surpassing the global average of 48%. However, this rapid growth also brings challenges, particularly concerning corporate data security and governance.
The arrival of DeepSeek, an open-source Chinese AI chatbot, has intensified this debate. Quietly launched in Brazil in January 2025, the platform quickly gained popularity and became a promising competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Moreover, while these giants required billion-dollar investments, DeepSeek was developed with a significantly leaner budget, raising questions about the real necessity of such massive investments.
The supposed efficiency and performance of the Chinese model suggest that the AI market may be moving towards a more economical path, prompting reflection on the feasibility of such huge investments in Western companies, whose business models now seem to be outperformed by more affordable and equally efficient alternatives.
However, DeepSeek raises critical questions beyond different ethical sensitivities. The open nature of the platform raises concerns about security, meaning companies using open-source AI must remain vigilant about preserving their information.
Recently, a flaw in DeepSeek exposed user prompts and API keys, increasing concerns about privacy in the system. Additionally, several countries, such as Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and Italy, have restricted its use due to the risk of information sharing with Chinese servers.
AI in the corporate world: how to balance innovation and security
While some nations adopt a more cautious stance, Brazil is rapidly advancing in the adoption of artificial intelligence. The IPSOS and Google study also shows that 65% of Brazilians see the technology as promising, and 60% believe it will create more jobs. Confidence in AI’s transformation of the job market grew from 62% to 68% in one year, while fears of job loss dropped from 20% to 15%.
For companies, this reality represents both an opportunity and a challenge. The growing use of AI requires a balance between innovation and security, with guidelines that include thorough risk assessments, implementation of transparency and governance, team training, and partnerships with trustworthy providers. Adopting technologies like DeepSeek without a solid strategy may expose businesses to regulatory risks, data leaks, and operational instabilities.
Moreover, the lack of compliance with local data protection regulations and vulnerability to cyberattacks can compromise a company’s integrity, damaging its reputation and customer trust. Therefore, it is crucial for organizations to conduct a careful assessment before implementing these technologies, ensuring their choices align with regulations and sensitive data protection, minimizing potential long-term losses.
One strategy that helps companies keep their cybersecurity up-to-date and efficient, for example, is Security Lifecycle Management (SLM). It ensures that all stages of information protection—from risk identification to incident response—are continuously monitored and improved.
In practice, this means security is not treated as something static but rather as an ongoing process. New threats emerge all the time, and thus, it is essential to review, adjust, and strengthen protective measures regularly. SLM allows organizations to anticipate potential problems and keep their data and systems always protected. In other words, AI adoption must be accompanied by clear compliance and security policies, ensuring its use aligns with corporate goals and sensitive data protection.
Generative artificial intelligence is already part of the business reality in Brazil and will continue to expand in the coming years. The DeepSeek case highlights the need for a critical approach to security and governance but also reinforces the transformative potential of AI in the corporate world. Companies that can integrate this technology responsibly and strategically will gain a competitive advantage, driving innovation and growth without compromising data protection and customer trust.
