U.S. companies are increasingly using Chinese-built models as they build out tools and products using AI. Recent model releases from Chinese companies are seen by many as highly competitive compared to leading U.S. frontier systems. Companies are hunting for cheaper model alternatives as they grapple with unexpectedly high costs related to AI. Chinese-built AI models are gaining traction among U.S. companies as they narrow the performance gap with leading American rivals while remaining significantly cheaper to use. Recent model releases from Chinese companies, including DeepSeek and Z.ai, are seen by many as highly competitive compared to leading frontier systems from…