DeepSeek Tops iPhone App Charts in China and the U.S.
In a significant milestone for the artificial intelligence industry, DeepSeek, a mobile AI application developed by a Chinese team, 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 achievement comes shortly after the company's launch of its new \"reasoning model,\" DeepSeek R1.
When users activate the \"DeepThink (R1)\" mode, the app displays its \"thinking process\" before generating responses, enabling it to handle complex logical and mathematical problems more effectively. 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.
Accessible and Open-Source AI
The DeepSeek app and its web-based chatbot are currently free for general users, with only API calls for programmers requiring payment. Demonstrating a commitment to open-source principles, 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 a range of systems, from ultra-thin laptops to high-performance gaming rigs.
In addition to providing free access to its models, DeepSeek has published a research paper detailing the development process of R1. This move enables other developers to replicate the process using their own training data, potentially accelerating innovation across the AI community.
Industry Leaders React to DeepSeek's Rise
The release of the R1 model has generated significant buzz within the AI industry, drawing reactions from prominent figures worldwide.
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.\"
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas noted that \"DeepSeek has largely replicated OpenAI-o1-mini and has open-sourced it,\" highlighting the impact of DeepSeek's contribution to the open-source community.
Jim Fan, a senior research manager at Nvidia, praised DeepSeek as a \"non-U.S. company\" that is upholding OpenAI's original mission of conducting \"truly open, frontier research that empowers all.\"
Yann LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist, commented that DeepSeek's success underscores how \"open-source models are surpassing proprietary ones,\" rather than indicating any one country's dominance in the field.
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's Vision for Innovation in China
In a July 2024 interview with 36kr.com, DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng emphasized the importance of China moving beyond the stereotype of merely adopting U.S. innovations. With the country's growing economy, Liang believes China should transition into a global contributor to technological advancement.
\"Innovation comes not only from the pursuit of business success but also from genuine curiosity,\" Liang stated. 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 contributors.
\"Perhaps the top 50 talents in this field are not in China,\" Liang acknowledged. \"But we can cultivate our own.\"
DeepSeek's approach reflects a broader ambition within China's tech industry to foster homegrown expertise and lead in global innovation, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
