DeepSeek Shakes Up the AI World: How China is Challenging the U.S. Monopoly

 

When DeepSeek emerged, it sent shockwaves through the artificial intelligence market. The reasons? A challenge to American dominance and the remarkably low cost of developing the AI.

Until then, since the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI, the United States seemed to hold a monopoly in the sector. This was evident from the major players: Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Meta. These companies appeared to be far ahead of the rest of the world, concentrating the most advanced AI models and establishing a closed ecosystem of services and computational infrastructure. But that was just an illusion. With the arrival of DeepSeek, the game changed!

What’s most intriguing is that the Chinese team behind DeepSeek decided to make it open-source, much like Linux—going against the grain of Western tech giants, which typically restrict access to their AI models to push users toward paid versions. This decision makes a huge difference. Anyone—individuals or companies—can use DeepSeek however they want, paving the way for new AI innovations. This could accelerate the development of specialized applications, especially in emerging markets where access to proprietary models like ChatGPT can be prohibitively expensive. Additionally, open-source models allow for external audits, increasing transparency and trust.

Another standout factor was DeepSeek’s relatively low cost compared to Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT. While these AI models required billions of dollars to develop, DeepSeek proved that an advanced model could be built with fewer resources. This raises questions about whether such massive investments by big tech companies are truly necessary. After all, the U.S. pioneered AI, but at a steep price. Training models like ChatGPT requires high-performance infrastructure, including specialized chips like Nvidia GPUs, which have become scarce and highly valuable. DeepSeek, on the other hand, seems to have taken a more efficient approach, optimizing resources and leveraging existing advancements in scientific research.

In my view, DeepSeek capitalized on the knowledge already developed by its competitors to craft its own strategy. And to be fair, all these chatbots share a similar layout and structure. That’s why OpenAI’s accusations that DeepSeek engaged in piracy or intellectual property violations seem overblown—especially considering that history has repeated itself before. Decades ago, Apple and Microsoft accused each other of industrial espionage. Moreover, OpenAI and other companies have also built their models based on publicly available academic research. The progress of AI has largely been a collective effort by the scientific and technological community.

One thing is certain: China’s entry into the AI race marks a new chapter in this competition. Now, our eyes shift to the East, which was once overshadowed by America! China has already demonstrated its AI potential, with companies like Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba making heavy investments in the sector. DeepSeek is further proof that the country is not just keeping pace with technological advancements—it’s positioning itself as a leader in the future of artificial intelligence.