DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, made history on Monday as its AI Assistant overtook ChatGPT to become the top-rated free app on Apple’s App Store in the United States. This achievement underscores DeepSeek’s rapid rise in the global AI arena and its growing impact on U.S. tech markets.
Powered by DeepSeek-V3 Model
The application is driven by the DeepSeek-V3 model, which its creators claim is among the most advanced open-source AI models globally. The model rivals leading closed-source systems, challenging traditional assumptions about U.S. dominance in AI development.
Since its launch on January 10, DeepSeek’s AI Assistant has gained massive traction among U.S. users. According to Sensor Tower, an app data research firm, the AI has quickly become a favorite, reflecting widespread user appreciation for its performance and capabilities.
Rethinking U.S. Tech Export Controls
DeepSeek’s rise comes amidst U.S. export controls aimed at restricting China’s access to advanced chips used for AI model training. The Biden administration has broadened these controls since 2021 to prevent high-end Nvidia chips from reaching Chinese firms.
Despite this, DeepSeek researchers claimed that the DeepSeek-V3 model was trained using Nvidia’s H800 chips, costing less than $6 million. While this claim has sparked debate, it challenges assumptions about the necessity of the most advanced chips for high-performance AI and raises questions about the effectiveness of U.S. export restrictions.
A Disruptive Player in the AI Landscape
Founded in 2023 in Hangzhou, DeepSeek is part of a wave of Chinese companies developing AI models. While many Chinese firms have launched large-language models since Baidu’s release of the first such system in 2023, DeepSeek stands out as the first to receive significant praise from the U.S. tech industry.
Its rapid success is a wake-up call for Silicon Valley, demonstrating that innovative AI development is no longer confined to U.S. borders.
Impact on the Global AI Race
DeepSeek’s emergence as a global contender highlights the growing sophistication of China’s AI sector. Its ability to deliver cutting-edge performance at relatively low costs could shift the dynamics of competition in AI development and deployment, potentially accelerating innovation worldwide.
The milestone not only challenges the effectiveness of export controls but also signals the need for a reevaluation of strategies to maintain technological primacy in the evolving global AI landscape.