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 comes shortly after the launch of its new reasoning model, DeepSeek R1.
Revolutionizing AI Reasoning
When users activate the \"DeepThink (R1)\" mode, the app showcases its \"thinking process\" before generating responses, allowing it to tackle complex logical and mathematical problems. According to DeepSeek's official website, the R1 model's performance is \"on par with\" OpenAI-o1, yet operates at approximately one-thirtieth of the cost of its competitor.
The mobile app and web chatbot are currently free for general use, 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, the company offers scaled-down versions 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, allowing other developers to replicate the process using their own training data.
Industry Reactions
The release of the R1 model has sent ripples through the AI community, eliciting reactions from prominent industry figures.
Marc Andreessen, venture capitalist and co-founder of Netscape, described DeepSeek R1 as \"one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs\" he has ever witnessed, calling it \"a profound gift to the world.\"
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas noted 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 indicating any national competition.
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.
Championing Innovation in China
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 elsewhere. As the country's economy grows, he asserted that it should transition into a global contributor to innovation.
Liang emphasized that genuine curiosity, not just the pursuit of business success, drives innovation. 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 contributors.
\"Perhaps the top 50 talents in this field are not in China,\" Liang told 36kr.com. \"But we can cultivate our own.\"
Implications for the AI Landscape
DeepSeek's rapid ascent highlights the evolving dynamics of the global AI industry. By offering advanced AI models at a fraction of the cost and making them accessible to a wider audience, DeepSeek is fostering innovation and collaboration across borders.
The open-source approach adopted by DeepSeek may encourage other companies to follow suit, potentially accelerating advancements in AI technology. As businesses, academics, and tech enthusiasts worldwide keep a close eye on these developments, the significance of accessible and cost-effective AI solutions becomes increasingly apparent.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
