Emerging AI application DeepSeek has overtaken OpenAI's ChatGPT to become the top free app on the iPhone App Store in both the Chinese mainland and the United States. This significant achievement comes just days after its Chinese developer launched the innovative \"reasoning model,\" DeepSeek R1.
When users activate the \"DeepThink (R1)\" mode, DeepSeek displays its \"thinking process\" before generating responses, enabling it to tackle complex logical and mathematical problems with enhanced transparency. According to DeepSeek's official website, the R1 model's performance is \"on par with\" OpenAI-o1, while operating at approximately one-thirtieth of its rival's cost.
Open Access and Community Empowerment
The DeepSeek mobile app and web chatbot are currently free for general use, with only API calls for programmers requiring payment. Demonstrating a commitment to openness, DeepSeek has made its full-size model available for free download, allowing users with sufficient hardware to run it locally. For those with less powerful devices, the company offers scaled-down versions of the model, optimized for everything from ultra-thin laptops to high-performance gaming rigs.
Beyond providing free access to its models, DeepSeek has also published a research paper detailing the development of R1. This transparency enables other developers to replicate the process using their own training data, fostering innovation and collaboration within the AI community.
Reactions from the AI Community
The release of the R1 model has sparked significant attention and admiration from prominent figures in the AI industry.
Marc Andreessen, venture capitalist and co-founder of Netscape, described DeepSeek R1 on X.com as \"one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs\" he has ever seen, calling it \"a profound gift to the world.\"
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas noted on X.com that \"DeepSeek has largely replicated OpenAI-o1-mini and has open-sourced it,\" highlighting the company's achievement in making advanced AI technology accessible.
Jim Fan, a senior research manager at Nvidia, praised DeepSeek as a \"non-U.S. company\" upholding the original mission of conducting \"truly open, frontier research that empowers all.\"
Yann LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist, remarked that DeepSeek's success underscores how \"open-source models are surpassing proprietary ones,\" rather than signaling one country's dominance over another in AI.
Kai-Fu Lee, former president of Google China, expressed validation on X.com, stating that the DeepSeek releases affirm his belief in China's potential to excel in generative AI engineering.
Championing Innovation in China
In a July 2024 interview with 36kr.com, DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng emphasized the importance of China transitioning from being perceived merely as an adopter of U.S. innovations to becoming a global contributor to technological advancement. \"As our economy grows, we should aim to innovate rather than rely on others' progress,\" Liang stated.
Liang highlighted that innovation is driven not only by the pursuit of business success but also by genuine curiosity. He revealed that the DeepSeek team comprises young talent and that the development of the company's earlier V2 model did not involve any overseas Chinese contributors. \"Perhaps the top 50 talents in this field are not in China,\" Liang told 36kr.com. \"But we can cultivate our own.\"
Looking Ahead
DeepSeek's rapid ascent to the top of the app charts signifies a notable shift in the AI landscape, demonstrating the capabilities of emerging technologies from the Chinese mainland. As open-source models continue to gain traction, DeepSeek's approach may encourage further collaboration and innovation within the global AI community.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
