DeepSeek, a Chinese startup founded in 2023, has made significant waves in the tech industry by surpassing ChatGPT to become the top-rated free application on Apple's App Store in the United States. This achievement marks a milestone for the small Hangzhou-based company, which released its AI Assistant on January 10. DeepSeek's AI is powered by the DeepSeek-V3 model, trained using Nvidia's H800 chips, with training costs reportedly under $6 million. Since its release, the AI Assistant has quickly gained popularity among US users, drawing attention from Silicon Valley.
The DeepSeek-V3 model has been hailed for its performance, matching or even surpassing the capabilities of some of the most advanced US models. This recognition comes at a time when the Biden administration has widened restrictions on exporting chips to China, aiming to prevent their use in training AI models by Chinese firms. Despite these export controls, DeepSeek's achievement highlights potential gaps in the effectiveness of Washington's measures.
DeepSeek's creators have described their AI as a model that "tops the leaderboard among open-source models and rivals the most advanced closed-source models globally." The startup's breakthrough underscores the fact that AI models, whether from ChatGPT or DeepSeek, require advanced chips for their development and training. However, some US tech executives have questioned the impact of export controls, noting that DeepSeek's use of less powerful Nvidia chips did not hinder its success.
Furthermore, a paper published by DeepSeek's researchers last month detailed the training process and costs associated with developing the DeepSeek-V3 model. The findings from this research have added to the growing discourse about the ability of Chinese startups to innovate and compete at a global level, despite challenges such as restricted access to cutting-edge technology.
The success of DeepSeek's AI Assistant has raised questions about the competitive landscape of AI development. As the assistant becomes increasingly popular, it has left a deep impression within Silicon Valley, indicating a shift in the dynamics of global tech innovation. The app has been described by CNA as "fast, secure and the best it can possibly be."
Leave a Reply