DeepSeek, a mobile AI application developed by a Chinese tech firm, has overtaken OpenAI's ChatGPT to claim the top position 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.
Users activating the \"DeepThink (R1)\" mode in the app experience an AI that displays its \"thinking process\" before generating responses. This feature enables DeepSeek to tackle complex logical and mathematical problems, setting it apart from competitors. According to the company's official website, the R1 model's performance is \"on par with\" OpenAI-o1, while its operational cost is approximately one-thirtieth of its rival's.
The DeepSeek mobile app and web chatbot are currently free for general users, with payment required only for API calls by programmers. Showcasing its commitment to accessibility, DeepSeek has made its full-size model available for free download. Users with sufficient hardware can run it locally, while those with less powerful devices can opt for 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 move empowers other developers to replicate the process using their own training data, potentially accelerating innovation in the AI field.
The AI Community Reacts
The release of the R1 model has made waves in the AI industry, drawing reactions from prominent figures.
Marc Andreessen, venture capitalist and co-founder of Netscape, described DeepSeek R1 on social media as \"one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs\" he has ever seen, calling it \"a profound gift to the world.\"
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, noted that \"DeepSeek has largely replicated OpenAI-o1-mini and has open-sourced it,\" highlighting the significance of the breakthrough.
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, emphasized that DeepSeek's success does not signify \"China surpassing the U.S. in AI,\" but rather underscores how \"open-source models are surpassing proprietary ones.\"
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.
DeepSeek CEO on Innovation in China
In a July 2024 interview, 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 believes China should become a global contributor to innovation rather than relying on advancements from elsewhere.
Liang emphasized that innovation stems not only from the pursuit of business success but also from genuine curiosity. 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 said. \"But we can cultivate our own.\"
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
