DeepSeek Surpasses ChatGPT on iPhone App Charts With Launch of R1 Model
DeepSeek, a mobile AI application developed in China, has overtaken OpenAI's ChatGPT to claim the top spot on the iPhone free app charts in both the Chinese mainland and the United States. This significant milestone comes shortly after the company launched its new \"reasoning model,\" DeepSeek R1.
When users activate the \"DeepThink (R1)\" mode, the app showcases its \"thinking process\" before generating responses, enabling 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, while operating at approximately one-thirtieth of its rival's cost.
The mobile app and web-based chatbot are currently free for general users, with only API calls for programmers requiring payment. Moreover, 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 of the model, optimized for everything 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 of R1. This approach enables other developers to replicate the process using their own training data, fostering an environment of collaborative innovation.
Resonating Impact in the AI Community
The release of the R1 model has reverberated throughout the AI industry, eliciting impressed reactions from prominent figures in the field.
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 significance of this development.
Jim Fan, a senior research manager at Nvidia, remarked that DeepSeek, as a \"non-U.S. company,\" is upholding OpenAI's 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 shift in national standings within the AI sector.
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.
A Vision for Innovation: Insights from DeepSeek's CEO
In a July 2024 interview with 36kr.com, DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng asserted that China must transcend the stereotype of merely applying innovations from other countries. As China's economy continues to grow, he believes the nation should evolve into a global contributor to innovation rather than relying on advancements made elsewhere.
Liang emphasized that genuine curiosity drives innovation, not solely the pursuit of business success. He revealed that the DeepSeek team comprises young talent and noted 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 stated. \"But we can cultivate our own.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
