Chinese startup DeepSeek has developed a low-cost AI model that has taken the tech world by storm. Just 20 days after its launch, the app attracted 20 million active users. According to TrendForce, DeepSeek now ranks as the second most popular AI app globally, trailing only ChatGPT. In third place is Doubao, a neural network developed by ByteDance.
Launched on January 11, DeepSeek reached 22.15 million daily active users by January 31—41.6% of ChatGPT’s audience, which had 53.23 million daily users at the time. Previously, Doubao led the Chinese market with 17 million users, but DeepSeek quickly surpassed it in popularity.
Climbing the Global Rankings
DeepSeek’s success is also evident in app store rankings. It secured the top spot in the Apple App Store across 157 countries, including the United States. Additionally, SimilarWeb reports that within just a week, DeepSeek’s traffic surpassed Google Gemini’s. By January 31, DeepSeek had 2.4 million users from the US, compared to Gemini’s 1.5 million.
The app’s rapid ascent has sparked reactions from major Chinese tech firms. Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba have announced plans to integrate DeepSeek’s model into their cloud platforms. Moreover, four leading Chinese GPU manufacturers—Huawei Ascend, Moore Threads, iluvatar, and MetaX—have expressed their readiness to support the startup’s growth.
DeepSeek’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down, adds NIX Solutions. With strong backing from industry leaders and growing global recognition, its influence in the AI space is expanding. We’ll keep you updated on further developments and potential integrations as DeepSeek continues to evolve.