DeepSeek Surpasses ChatGPT to Top iPhone App Charts in China and the U.S.

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 China and the United States. This significant achievement comes just days after the company launched its new reasoning model, DeepSeek R1.

When users activate the \"DeepThink (R1)\" mode within the app, DeepSeek displays its \"thinking process\" before generating responses, enabling it to handle complex logical and mathematical problems. According to DeepSeek's official website, the R1 model's performance is \"on par with\" OpenAI-o1, while its operational cost is approximately one-thirtieth of its competitor's.

The mobile app and web chatbot are currently free for general use, with only API calls for programmers requiring payment. Moreover, DeepSeek has made its full-size model available for free download, allowing users with sufficient hardware to run it locally. For devices with less processing power, the company offers scaled-down versions 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 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 reverberated through the AI industry, drawing impressed reactions from prominent figures.

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 seen, 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.\"

Jim Fan, a senior research manager at Nvidia, stated that DeepSeek is a \"non-U.S. company\" 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 does not signify \"China surpassing the U.S. in AI,\" but rather highlights how \"open-source models are surpassing proprietary ones.\"

Kai-Fu Lee, former president of Google China, expressed a sense of vindication, saying that the DeepSeek releases validate his belief in China's potential to excel in generative AI engineering.

DeepSeek CEO: China as an Innovator

In a July 2024 interview with 36kr.com, DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng argued that China must move beyond the stereotype of merely applying U.S. innovations. As the country's economy grows, he said, it should transition into a global contributor to innovation rather than relying on the advancements of others.

Liang emphasized that innovation stems not only from the pursuit of business success but also from genuine curiosity. He also 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 told 36kr.com. \"But we can cultivate our own.\"

DeepSeek's ascent to the top of the app charts and its commitment to open-source development signal a significant shift in the global AI landscape. By fostering innovation and collaboration, the company is positioning itself as a major player in the industry, challenging established giants and inspiring a new generation of AI development.