### AI and Lottery Prediction Controversy: Focusing on the DeepSeek Case

1. Overview of the Incident
Recently, rumors have spread in China about DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, claiming its ability to predict lottery numbers. SNS posts claiming DeepSeek's high-performance AI model helped win the lottery have gone viral, causing considerable anxiety among Chinese lottery operators.

• One Weibo user, Mr. Li Mo, bought a lottery ticket based on DeepSeek's recommended numbers, but the result was not as surprising as the rumors suggested. He lost half of his 10 yuan bet, 5 yuan.
• However, posts claiming "AI predicted the lottery numbers" attracted significant attention and reached the top of Weibo's trending searches.

2. Official Stance of Lottery Operators

• Lottery operators officially stated that "predicting lottery numbers is impossible."
• The explanation is that the number drawing process uses unpredictable physical methods such as air currents and vibrations, making it impossible for AI to analyze and predict them.

3. DeepSeek and its Significance in the AI Market
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company that gained global attention in early 2025, developed the inferential AI model "DeepSeek R1". The core of this model is its ability to provide performance similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT at a significantly lower cost.

• DeepSeek's Technology and Response:

  • DeepSeek R1 uses high-performance AI chips and is considered a turning point in Chinese technological development.
  • DeepSeek challenged the AI market previously dominated by American companies with its significantly lower price and comparable performance.

• AI Applications:

  • Unlike typical generative AI, DeepSeek focuses on inferential capabilities.
  • It shows potential for use in various fields beyond the lottery example.

4. Lottery Prediction and the Limits of AI
While AI possesses incredible computational capabilities, it cannot predict winning lottery numbers. The reasons are as follows:

• Randomness: Lottery numbers are generated randomly. This means there are no data patterns for AI to process.
• Physical Variables: The movement of lottery balls is determined by various physical factors (airflow, minute vibrations of the machine, etc.), making reproduction impossible.
• Ethical Considerations: Manipulation or prediction techniques for systems like lotteries can raise legal and ethical concerns.

5. Lessons from the DeepSeek Case
The DeepSeek case highlights the gap between understanding AI technology and public expectations. People tend to believe AI will magically solve all problems, but AI is simply a data-driven tool.

• Understanding the Limitations of AI:

  • AI is a powerful tool for computation, classification, and pattern extraction, but it is powerless in areas with absolutely no data patterns.
  • Attempts to apply AI to systems emphasizing randomness, such as lotteries, are unrealistic.

• Ethical Guidelines for AI Use:

  • AI-driven businesses and technological innovations must be conducted within ethical boundaries.
  • The spread of misinformation can cause unnecessary confusion, and technology providers have a responsibility to prevent this.

6. Conclusion and Outlook
DeepSeek's success can be a significant milestone in AI technology development, but the lottery case should serve as an opportunity to correct public misconceptions and raise awareness of realistic technology applications. AI's potential is undoubtedly enormous, but it is not a "panacea."

Discussions about the reliability and ethical use of AI will become increasingly important in the coming era.

*Source URL:
https://cm.asiae.co.kr/article/2025021314330260038