NAIROBI, Kenya- In a surprising twist, Chinese startup DeepSeek has dethroned OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the top-rated free app on Apple’s U.S. App Store.
Powered by its DeepSeek-V3 model, the app has skyrocketed in popularity since its January 10 release, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower.
But this isn’t just a story about an app climbing the charts—it’s a tale of how a relatively unknown Chinese company is challenging assumptions about U.S. dominance in AI and the effectiveness of American export controls.
As DeepSeek shot to the top of Apple’s App Store rankings, tech giants were left shaking. In simple English, DeepSeek inspired investors to question sky-high valuations across the tech sector.
The Rise of DeepSeek: A David vs. Goliath Story
DeepSeek, a Hangzhou-based startup founded in 2023, isn’t exactly a household name—especially compared to Chinese tech giants like Baidu, which pioneered the country’s first large-language AI model.
Yet, here we are, with DeepSeek’s AI assistant not only gaining traction but also earning recognition from tech experts as a system that rivals top AI models.
The DeepSeek-V3 model, which its creators claim can go toe-to-toe with the most advanced closed-source AI models globally.
And it’s not just hype. The app’s rapid adoption suggests that DeepSeek has cracked the code on creating an AI assistant that’s both powerful and user-friendly.
U.S. Export Controls: A Speed Bump, Not a Roadblock?
Here’s where things get interesting. Since 2021, the Biden administration has been tightening export controls to limit China’s access to advanced chips, like Nvidia’s high-end GPUs, which are crucial for AI development. The goal? To slow down China’s AI ambitions.
But DeepSeek’s success raises questions about how effective those controls really are.
The company’s researchers revealed that they trained their model using Nvidia’s H800 chips—a workaround that cost them under $6 million. That’s a fraction of what many companies spend on AI development.
So, while Washington’s policies may have created hurdles, they clearly haven’t stopped Chinese innovators from finding ways to leap over them.
DeepSeek’s rise is a wake-up call for the global AI race. For years, the U.S. has been seen as the undisputed leader in artificial intelligence, with companies like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft setting the pace.
A Lesson for Kenyan AI Innovators—Greatness Knows No Limits
DeepSeek’s story isn’t just a win for China—it’s an inspiration for AI creators everywhere, especially in places like Kenya, where resources can be scarce but innovation is abundant.
The startup’s ability to rival global giants with limited funding and under restrictive conditions proves one thing: greatness isn’t about how much you have; it’s about how creatively you use what you have.
For Kenyan AI creators, this is a call to action. You don’t need the most expensive chips or billions in funding to make an impact.
What you need is vision, determination, and the willingness to challenge the status quo.
DeepSeek didn’t wait for perfect conditions—it created them. And in doing so, it showed the world that innovation thrives not in the absence of challenges, but in the face of them.
So, to every Kenyan innovator dreaming of building the next big thing in AI: take a page from DeepSeek’s playbook.
Your limitations aren’t roadblocks—they’re stepping stones. And with the right mindset, you can turn them into a launchpad for greatness.
