The company DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence startup based in Hangzhou, China, has garnered worldwide attention since the launch of its first model in 2023. Despite the trade restrictions facing China, DeepSeek has demonstrated significant advancements in the field of artificial intelligence, challenging the belief that AI development requires large amounts of power and energy.
DeepSeek stands out by offering performance comparable to the best chatbots in the world at a seemingly lower cost. Founded by Liang Wenfeng in 2023, the company focuses on the development of open-source artificial intelligence models, leading to greater accessibility for developers in China.
Despite competition in the Chinese AI market, led by tech giants like Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent, DeepSeek has managed to reduce costs for developers in a context of price wars in the sector. This has generated interest both in China and globally, especially due to the effectiveness and efficiency of its models.
The success of DeepSeek has led to comparisons with American providers such as OpenAI and Meta AI. Although the company has not detailed specific costs, it is believed that the training and development process of its models is much more economical than that of its competitors. This raises questions about the necessity of large investments in advanced AI hardware.
Despite the restrictions imposed by the United States regarding the export of cutting-edge technologies to China, DeepSeek has managed to navigate these limitations, focusing its efforts on efficiency with limited resources. Its reasoning model, DeepSeek R1, has generated international interest and has been acclaimed for its ability to provide detailed answers across various areas.
The sudden popularity of DeepSeek has led to increased demand for its mobile chatbot application and has raised concerns in Washington about the advancement of Chinese AI. Nevertheless, the company has managed to position itself as a more affordable alternative to its competitors, signaling a shift in the global artificial intelligence landscape.
The founder of DeepSeek, Liang Wenfeng, has emphasized the importance of developing a national AI ecosystem in China and questions the necessity of large investments compared to true innovation. As DeepSeek continues to grow and attract more users, challenges and opportunities arise in the field of AI, both in the technological and geopolitical arenas.
