Introduction
DeepSeek, a rising artificial intelligence company from China, has quickly made headlines for its groundbreaking advancements in AI technology. Founded in December 2023, the company has rapidly gained traction with its state-of-the-art large language models, positioning itself as a strong competitor in the global AI race.
Rapid Growth and Innovation
In early 2025, DeepSeek launched its AI Assistant, powered by its advanced DeepSeek-V3 model. Within weeks, the app skyrocketed in popularity, surpassing major competitors like ChatGPT to become the top-ranked free application on Apple’s App Store in the United States. This rapid adoption highlights the increasing global interest in alternative AI solutions beyond the dominance of Western tech giants.
The Mind Behind DeepSeek
DeepSeek’s founder, Liang Wenfeng, has an impressive background in both technology and finance. As an alumnus of Zhejiang University, he specialized in electronic information engineering and computer science. Before diving into AI, he led High-Flyer, a successful hedge fund known for its expertise in quantitative trading. His strategic approach to technology and investment has played a significant role in DeepSeek’s rise.
Efficient AI Development with Limited Resources
One of the most remarkable aspects of DeepSeek’s success is its ability to build a highly competitive AI model with fewer resources compared to its Western counterparts. While companies like OpenAI and Google rely on supercomputers with tens of thousands of GPUs, DeepSeek managed to train its models with around 2,000 Nvidia H800 chips. This process, completed in just 55 days with a budget of approximately $5.58 million, showcases the company’s efficiency in AI development.
Challenging the Global AI Landscape
DeepSeek’s success has sparked discussions about the shifting balance of power in AI development. Industry experts see its emergence as a significant milestone, demonstrating that China can produce top-tier AI models despite facing export restrictions on advanced AI chips. This breakthrough has raised questions about the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions aimed at limiting China’s AI progress.
Security Challenges and Expansion Plans
As DeepSeek gained worldwide attention, it also faced cybersecurity threats. In January 2025, a cyberattack forced the company to temporarily limit new user registrations to verified Chinese mainland phone numbers, email accounts, and Google logins. Despite these challenges, DeepSeek continues to expand its reach, improving its models and preparing for a larger international rollout.
