The tech world has a new protagonist: DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence model that, without warning, has become the most downloaded application on mobile devices. This phenomenon has not only revolutionized the AI industry, but has also unleashed a financial earthquake on the stock markets in the United States and Japan.
Created in Hangzhou, a Chinese city known for its dense concentration of technology companies, DeepSeek combines innovation and functionality. From writing song lyrics to coming up with recipes with what you have in the fridge, this “chatbot” has become a public favorite thanks to its versatility and performance, comparable to giants such as OpenAI and its Western rivals.
China’s objectives with DeepSeek
But it is not just another tool; it is a statement of intent by China, which is seeking to lead the global technology race by 2030. With multibillion-dollar investments, the Asian country has made it clear that it does not plan to lag behind in the artificial intelligence boom.
DeepSeek’s success has taken its toll on industry giants. Nvidia, the world’s leading AI hardware and software company, saw its shares fall by more than 3% last Friday and a further 13% plunge on Monday, translating into losses worth $400 billion. SoftBank, one of the main investors in AI projects in the United States, also suffered an 8% drop in its shares.
Even Marc Andreessen, a well-known investor and close adviser to former President Donald Trump, compared the impact of DeepSeek to that of Sputnik in the space race, calling it a historic achievement.
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China vs. United States: The battle to be the leader in artificial intelligence
The emergence of DeepSeek has intensified the rivalry between the world’s two largest economies. While China is aggressively investing in AI, the US is not far behind. Former President Trump launched an AI Action Plan in January to boost US competitiveness, led by a strategic team that includes the White House’s “AI and Cryptography Czar“.
Among the most notable initiatives, Trump has supported OpenAI’s Stargate project, an ambitious endeavor to build infrastructure to ensure US leadership in this field and curb China’s progress.
With DeepSeek at the center of the scene, the competition between these tech giants not only defines the present, but will also shape the future of artificial intelligence in the world.