A major shift is happening in the AI chatbot industry, with Chinese start-up DeepSeek rising fast in global rankings.
Many users are now switching from OpenAI’s ChatGPT to this new, more affordable alternative.
DeepSeek’s Affordable AI Disrupts the Market
DeepSeek has made waves in the AI world by launching a chatbot that rivals OpenAI’s latest model but at a much lower price.
This has triggered a major shift in the industry, causing significant financial ripples and regulatory concerns.
Stock Market Shock & Legal Scrutiny
Since DeepSeek’s launch, the AI market has been in turmoil. Stock values of major AI companies, including NVIDIA, have taken a hit.
NVIDIA alone has reportedly lost around $600 billion in market value.
Additionally, OpenAI has accused DeepSeek of using its database without permission.
The U.S. government has also stepped in, investigating whether DeepSeek bypassed trade restrictions on high-end NVIDIA AI chips by using Singapore as an intermediary.
This controversy has only intensified the drama in the AI sector.
ChatGPT Usage Drops as DeepSeek Gains Popularity
User data shows a clear trend: ChatGPT’s daily visits in the U.S. have dropped significantly, from 22.1 million in October 2024 to 14.9 million by January 2025.
Meanwhile, DeepSeek, which had just 2,300 visits in October, has surged to 71,200 by mid-January.
Globally, DeepSeek has attracted over 7.12 million users, making it one of the most downloaded apps in 140 countries.
The Future of AI Chatbots
With DeepSeek’s rapid growth and its impact on the AI industry, it’s clear that competition is heating up.
As more users explore this new alternative, it remains to be seen how OpenAI and other industry leaders will respond to this market shake-up.
