Chinese AI App DeepSeek Becomes Most Downloaded on App Store

DeepSeek, a new AI application from a Chinese startup, has rapidly ascended to the top of Apple's App Store, surpassing established competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Utilizing the open-source DeepSeek-V3 model, the app claims to provide performance comparable to its rivals while being developed at a significantly lower cost, reportedly under $6 million. Its success has raised concerns among U.S. tech companies about their competitive edge in the AI sector, with stock prices for firms like Nvidia showing signs of decline following DeepSeek's rise. The app's transparency and efficiency have been praised, as it reportedly requires less computing power than its competitors. Analysts are skeptical about the sustainability of DeepSeek's claims and its operational environment, which may be more restrictive than that of U.S. firms. Nonetheless, key industry figures, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, are urging caution as they observe these developments from China.