DeepSeek AI Assistant overtakes ChatGPT on App Store
Chinese startup DeepSeek AI tops Apple’s U.S. App Store rankings
Chinese startup DeepSeek has shaken up the artificial intelligence landscape by surpassing ChatGPT to become the top-rated free app on Apple's App Store in the United States.
The AI assistant, powered by DeepSeek-V3, has gained significant traction since its release on January 10, according to Sensor Tower, an app data research firm. DeepSeek’s rapid rise underscores the growing influence of Chinese AI companies, raising questions about the effectiveness of U.S. export controls on China’s tech industry, reports Reuters.
DeepSeek-V3, which its creators claim “tops the leaderboard among open-source models,” has been lauded for its performance, rivaling some of the world’s most advanced closed-source AI models. The app’s success challenges the prevailing assumption of U.S. primacy in AI development and highlights the increasing capabilities of Chinese AI startups.
U.S. Export Controls and DeepSeek’s Global Ambitions
The milestone is particularly significant as it comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China over technology and intellectual property. The Biden administration has implemented stringent export controls aimed at preventing the flow of advanced chips and AI technologies to China, hoping to limit Chinese companies' ability to develop cutting-edge AI models.
Despite these efforts, DeepSeek’s use of Nvidia’s H800 chips for training, reportedly costing under $6 million, has sparked debate in the tech industry. Critics have raised concerns about the effectiveness of these export controls, especially since DeepSeek’s training process reportedly used less advanced chips than those Washington has sought to block.
While the details of DeepSeek’s technology have been disputed, the company’s success points to the shifting global dynamics in AI research and development. The ability of DeepSeek to outperform U.S. rivals using relatively less expensive technology has drawn attention from Silicon Valley executives, who are beginning to reassess the current landscape.
The Future of DeepSeek and Chinese AI
Founded in 2023 in Hangzhou, DeepSeek has quickly become a standout in a growing field of Chinese AI companies, following in the footsteps of tech giants like Baidu. However, it is the first Chinese startup to be recognized by U.S. tech industry figures as a serious competitor to leading U.S. models, raising the stakes in the global AI race.
As DeepSeek continues to gain popularity, especially in the U.S. market, it may play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI technology and further challenging the dominance of American firms in the space.
Earlier, OpenAI's attempt to monetize its AI services through the $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro plan has not been as successful as expected. CEO Sam Altman recently acknowledged that the plan, launched late last year, is currently unprofitable due to higher-than-expected usage.
