DeepSeek, a cutting-edge mobile AI application developed in China, has overtaken OpenAI's ChatGPT to claim the top spot on the iPhone free app charts in both China and the United States. This significant achievement follows the launch of its new \"reasoning model,\" DeepSeek R1.
When users activate the \"DeepThink (R1)\" mode, the app showcases its \"thinking process\" before generating responses. This feature allows DeepSeek to tackle complex logical and mathematical problems with enhanced proficiency. 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 its rival's cost.
Currently, the mobile app and web chatbot are free for general users, with only API calls for programmers requiring payment. DeepSeek has also made its full-size model available for free download, enabling users with sufficient hardware to run it locally. For those with less powerful devices, scaled-down versions of the model are offered, optimized for everything from ultra-thin laptops to high-performance gaming rigs.
Beyond providing free access to its models, DeepSeek has published a research paper detailing the development of R1. This openness allows 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 sent shockwaves through the AI industry, eliciting impressed reactions from prominent figures worldwide.
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 witnessed, calling it \"a profound gift to the world.\"
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, noted on X.com that \"DeepSeek has largely replicated OpenAI-o1-mini and has open-sourced it,\" highlighting the significance of the development.
Jim Fan, a senior research manager at Nvidia, praised DeepSeek as a 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 underscores how \"open-source models are surpassing proprietary ones,\" rather than signifying any national competition in AI advancement.
Kai-Fu Lee, former president of Google China, expressed a sense of vindication on X.com, stating that the DeepSeek releases validate his belief in China's potential to excel in generative AI engineering.
DeepSeek CEO Advocates for Innovation
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 other countries. He suggested that as the Chinese economy grows, it should transition into a global contributor to innovation.
Liang emphasized that genuine curiosity drives innovation, not just the pursuit of business success. He also revealed that the DeepSeek team comprises young talent and that the development of the company's earlier V2 model did not involve any overseas contributors.
\"Perhaps the top 50 talents in this field are not in China,\" Liang told 36kr.com. \"But we can cultivate our own.\"
As DeepSeek continues to make strides in AI development, its impact on the global tech landscape is becoming increasingly significant. The company's commitment to open-source collaboration and cost-effective solutions positions it as a formidable player in the AI industry.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
