WASHINGTON: Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek has surged to the top of the Google Play Store in the United States, just days after securing the number one spot on the Apple App Store, signalling the growing influence of Chinese AI firms in the global market.
According to app analytics firm AppFigures, DeepSeek has been downloaded over 1.2 million times on the Google Play Store and more than 1.9 million times on the Apple App Store worldwide since its launch in mid-January.
The actual number of installs may be higher, as the app is marked with a label indicating over five million downloads on the Play Store.
The rapid rise of DeepSeek comes amid heightened interest in AI-driven chatbots, with the app positioning itself as an alternative to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The app, powered by DeepSeek V3, allows users to analyse files, retrieve information from the web, and synchronise chat history across devices.
Cost-Efficient AI Model
Industry experts suggest that DeepSeek’s growing popularity is linked to its release of open-source AI models that are competitive with those of Western giants such as OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Anthropic.
However, DeepSeek claims to have trained its AI at a fraction of the cost compared to its competitors, reportedly spending less than $6 million to develop its DeepSeek R1 model within two months.
According to Forbes, the Chinese firm utilised Nvidia’s H800 GPUs—hardware that is subject to US export restrictions—to train its models, rather than the more advanced H100 chips used by leading Western AI firms.
The company asserts that despite these limitations, it has achieved significant breakthroughs in AI development.
Global AI Competition
The app’s rise underscores the increasing competition between Chinese and Western AI firms. Speaking to TechCrunch, AI analysts noted that DeepSeek’s ascent reflects China’s ability to produce competitive AI solutions despite hardware constraints.
“The fact that a Chinese AI app has topped both the Play Store and App Store in the US is a major development,” said an industry expert quoted by The Verge.
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“It shows that China is no longer just catching up—it’s becoming a serious contender in the AI race.”
Despite its early success, DeepSeek faces an uphill battle to maintain its position. Experts suggest that to challenge ChatGPT in the long term, the app would need to secure approximately 300 million weekly users—a feat that remains highly ambitious.
Future Prospects
The app’s success has already attracted attention from the tech industry, with startups such as Perplexity and Gloo—the latter founded by former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger—reportedly integrating DeepSeek’s models into their platforms.
DeepSeek’s unexpected dominance in the US market highlights shifting dynamics in AI innovation. While Western firms have long led the industry, China’s growing AI prowess is challenging this status quo.
