DeepSeek, China's AI Startup, Surpasses ChatGPT On Apple App Store

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has allegedly surpassed ChatGPT to rank as the highest-rated free app on Apple's App Store in the US, effective Monday, January 27, shortly after its launch just over two weeks ago.

DeepSeek reportedly originated from a start-up located in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, renowned for its concentration of tech companies. According to app data research firm Sensor Tower, its AI Assistant, driven by the DeepSeek-V3 model, has achieved considerable popularity since its launch on January 10.

DeepSeek's developers assert that the DeepSeek-V3 model surpasses numerous open-source models and competes with several of the leading closed-source ones worldwide. This milestone signifies a significant advancement in the ongoing global artificial intelligence competition, challenging the supremacy of the US in this area and bringing into question the efficacy of Washington's export restrictions designed to limit China's access to cutting-edge chip technology and AI development.

Researchers from DeepSeek indicated that the DeepSeek-V3 model utilized Nvidia's H800 chips for training, with costs reported to be below $6 million, based on a report from the news agency Reuters. Although this assertion has been challenged, the report suggests that these chips were allegedly not as advanced as those restricted by US export bans, fostering doubt in the US tech sector regarding the effectiveness of these controls.

Established in 2023 in Hangzhou, DeepSeek is among several Chinese tech companies that have launched AI models, yet it stands out as the first to receive acknowledgment in the US for equaling or even exceeding the performance of top US AI models. Despite its swift ascent, limited information is available about the company, which has quickly become an emblem of China’s expanding strength in artificial intelligence.