DeepSeek, an AI assistant developed by a relatively unknown Chinese startup, has surged to the top of Apple’s App Store in the US, surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT in popularity.
Powered by the DeepSeek-V3 model, the app has been praised for its intelligence and efficiency, raising concerns in Silicon Valley about China’s growing influence in artificial intelligence. The rapid rise of DeepSeek challenges US dominance in AI and casts doubt on the effectiveness of Washington’s export controls aimed at restricting China’s access to advanced chips.
Despite claims that DeepSeek-V3 was trained using Nvidia’s H800 chips with a budget under $6 million, some analysts dispute these details. However, the model’s success suggests Chinese firms are making significant AI advancements even with limited access to high-end computing power.
Founded in 2023, the Hangzhou-based DeepSeek startup has now positioned itself as a major player in AI, with industry experts acknowledging its potential to compete with leading US models.
