DeepSeek, a mobile AI application developed in China, has overtaken OpenAI's ChatGPT to claim the number one spot on the iPhone free app charts in both China and the United States. This significant achievement follows the recent launch of its \"reasoning model,\" DeepSeek R1.
Users activating the \"DeepThink (R1)\" mode experience a unique feature where the app displays its \"thinking process\" before generating responses. This capability enables DeepSeek to tackle complex logical and mathematical problems, setting it apart from its competitors. According to the company's official website, the R1 model's performance is \"on par with\" OpenAI-o1, while operating at approximately one-thirtieth of the rival's cost.
The accessibility of DeepSeek has also contributed to its rise in popularity. The mobile app and web chatbot are currently free for general use, with only API calls for programmers requiring payment. Additionally, DeepSeek has made its full-size model available for free download, allowing users with adequate hardware to run it locally. For those with less powerful devices, the company offers scaled-down versions optimized for various hardware capabilities, ranging from ultra-thin laptops to high-performance gaming rigs.
In a move that underscores its commitment to open-source development, DeepSeek has published a research paper detailing the development of the R1 model. This transparency enables other developers to replicate the process using their own training data, fostering innovation within the AI community.
The AI Community Reacts
The release of the R1 model has elicited strong reactions from prominent figures in the AI industry. Marc Andreessen, venture capitalist and co-founder of Netscape, described DeepSeek R1 on social media platform X.com as \"one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs\" he has ever witnessed, calling it \"a profound gift to the world.\"
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, noted that \"DeepSeek has largely replicated OpenAI-o1-mini and has open-sourced it,\" highlighting the significance of the development in the open-source community.
Jim Fan, senior research manager at Nvidia, commended DeepSeek as a \"non-U.S. company\" that is upholding the original mission of conducting \"truly open, frontier research that empowers all.\"
Yann LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist, emphasized that DeepSeek's success does not indicate \"China surpassing the U.S. in AI,\" but rather underscores how \"open-source models are surpassing proprietary ones.\"
Kai-Fu Lee, former president of Google China, expressed a sense of vindication, stating that the DeepSeek releases validate his belief in China's potential to excel in generative AI engineering, despite skepticism from others.
DeepSeek CEO on China's Innovative Path
In a July 2024 interview with 36kr.com, DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng argued that China must move beyond the stereotype of merely applying innovations from the United States. As the country's economy continues to grow, he believes it should transition into a global contributor to innovation rather than relying on advancements from elsewhere.
\"Innovation stems not only from the pursuit of business success but also from genuine curiosity,\" Liang stated. He revealed that the DeepSeek team is composed of 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 acknowledged. \"But we can cultivate our own.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
