In a recent Reuters report from Beijing dated February 3rd, Chinese internet users have been exploring various topics with the DeepSeek artificial intelligence app. Amid the Lunar New Year holiday, millions of users engaged with the groundbreaking AI service, reflecting a sense of national pride.
Among the users, Wang Jiangyu, a law professor at City University of Hong Kong, tested the platform with a query on how China should respond to President Donald Trump's tariffs. DeepSeek offered a detailed seven-point response suggesting strategies including targeting specific industries in U.S. states and setting technical standards for EV charging.
Commenting on DeepSeek's capabilities, Professor Wang described the AI as "comprehensive, pragmatic, and relevant." Unlike its detailed political answers, DeepSeek sidestepped sensitive queries on topics like Xi Jinping and Tiananmen Square.
The AI even ventured into offering investment advice to celebrity stock market commentator Chen Zhihao on Chinese stocks in light of the tariff issue, indicating possible stimulus measures or support for the tech industry.
The recent launch of DeepSeek's advanced AI models, comparable to those in the U.S. but at a lower cost, caused a stir in the technology sector and raised the profile of the Hangzhou-based startup and its founder. Users shared anecdotes of seeking fortune-telling and marriage insights from DeepSeek, with one even claiming the AI interpreted her dreams accurately.
Notably, DeepSeek's AI app surpassed ChatGPT as the most downloaded on Apple's App Store last week. Although DeepSeek claimed to have trained its latest model with minimal computing power, some experts have questioned this assertion.
The success of DeepSeek has sparked debate on the value of AI investments, challenging the exorbitant sums pledged by U.S. tech giants. Furthermore, authorities in Japan, South Korea, France, Italy, Ireland, and other countries are monitoring DeepSeek's handling of personal data.