In a outstanding flip of occasions, DeepSeek, a Chinese language startup based simply over a yr in the past, has risen to the primary spot on the App Retailer, outpacing OpenAI’s ChatGPT, expressed Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff taking to X to share his ideas.

“DeepSeek is now #1 on the AppStore, surpassing ChatGPT—no NVIDIA supercomputers or $100M wanted,” he wrote, emphasising the significance of knowledge and metadata because the true driving forces behind AI innovation.

DeepSeek, primarily based in Hangzhou, China, has been making headlines since its launch in January. Its app has turn out to be a sensation throughout international locations just like the US, UK, and Australia, incomes excessive reward for its distinctive method to AI responses. Not like typical chatbots, DeepSeek explains its reasoning step-by-step earlier than delivering a solution. This makes its replies really feel extra logical and nicely thought out, in response to the corporate.

The brainchild of Liang Wenfeng, CEO of the AI-driven hedge fund Excessive-Flyer, DeepSeek is constructed on an open-source mannequin. This implies builders worldwide can contribute to and enhance its know-how, additional boosting its attraction. The startup’s first main launch, the R1 mannequin, guarantees efficiency corresponding to OpenAI’s newest choices however at a fraction of the price.

What actually units DeepSeek aside is its concentrate on cost-efficiency and accessibility. By avoiding the necessity for costly supercomputers and huge budgets, the corporate has managed to problem business giants like OpenAI, Nvidia and Google whereas nonetheless delivering high-quality outcomes.

Benioff’s feedback underline the importance of this achievement, “The actual treasure of AI isn’t the UI or the mannequin—they’ve turn out to be commodities. The true worth lies in knowledge and metadata, the oxygen fueling AI’s potential.”

DeepSeek’s fast success challenges the normal perception that AI growth requires huge assets. It additionally highlights a shift in focus in the direction of knowledge as the brand new “gold” of the AI age.