The popularity of the AI chatbot DeepSeek has surged dramatically since its launch, quickly capturing user attention and rising to the top of the App Store charts. By January 28, 2025, DeepSeek - AI Assistant ascended to the number one spot among free applications on the App Store and ranked fifth in the Performance category on Google Play.
Users from Vietnam have particularly praised the app, leaving glowing reviews. One user, who goes by the name Thánh, remarked, "I think this is the best free AI application I've ever known. It's smart, responds quickly, and quality could reach 9/10 compared to ChatGPT Pro, for free." This kind of enthusiastic feedback has contributed considerably to DeepSeek’s rapid rise.
Launched only two weeks ago, DeepSeek has gained global recognition, reaching the number one position on the charts across at least 52 countries, including the United States, which is home to established giants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI. By January 27, 2025, DeepSeek had recorded approximately 2.6 million downloads, a remarkable increase from the one million downloads reported just days earlier. The app gained popularity especially fast, with over 80% of its total downloads occurring within the past week, outpacing its competitor, Perplexity, by more than 300%.
According to market analysis firm Sensor Tower, the app’s rapid growth highlights the still-vibrant consumer space for AI technologies. TechCrunch noted, "DeepSeek proves the AI consumer space is still alive and shouldn't exclude new competitors," emphasizing the application's potential to reshape the competitive environment.
DeepSeek was co-founded by Liang Wenfeng, who has ties to the AI-focused investment firm High-Flyer. Development on the AI app began in April 2023, with the goal of achieving General Artificial Intelligence (AGI)—a mission shared by significant players like OpenAI. Remarkably, DeepSeek utilizes open-source coding which allows other developers to contribute and collaborate, much like Meta's Llama model, all built under limitations due to hardware constraints within China. This strategic choice enables cost-efficient development, reportedly at only $5.6 million.
Despite the excitement surrounding its launch, DeepSeek faced significant operational difficulties on its debut day, including reports of large-scale attacks on its servers which complicated new user registrations. Such challenges highlight the obstacles technology firms can encounter during rapid scaling.
While the app’s speed and adaptability have garnered positive feedback, experts have raised some concerns about the underlying software’s limitations. Journalists with the Asia News Agency tested its knowledge on sensitive geopolitical issues like the South China Sea, only to find its responses lacking once the conversation ventured toward potentially controversial topics. When asked, "What is the South China Sea?" the answer appeared quickly. It defined the sea's geographical significance and recognized the territorial disputes over it involving China. Yet, it soon reverted to saying, "I'm sorry, this falls outside my current scope. Let's talk about something else!"
Greg Poling, analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, commented, "I'm not surprised. DeepSeek will avoid all topics deemed 'sensitive' in China." This hesitance to engage with contentious subjects raises questions about the app's perceived reliability and autonomy, particularly since it is developed by Chinese entities subject to regulatory scrutiny. Political analysts suggest DeepSeek will strictly adhere to Chinese government regulations, even extending this compliance internationally to maintain its market foothold.
The dynamics surrounding DeepSeek are reminiscent of those concerning OpenAI’s ChatGPT, with many eyeing the former as both a competitor and collaborator within the vast AI ecosystem. "Think of this as teamwork rather than competition," stated ChatGPT when posed with the question of DeepSeek’s growing prominence. This statement reflects the broader collaborative spirit within the industry.
What's clear is this wave of interest in DeepSeek signals more than just the emergence of another AI application. It offers valuable insight about user behavior and demand for innovations free from significant costs, highlighting opportunities for new entrants in the saturated AI marketplace. Will DeepSeek manage to sustain its momentum and expand its capabilities without falling victim to the restrictions inherent to its roots? Only time will tell as it forges its path forward amid such pronounced scrutiny.