Tech Desk 
Jan 30, 2025
Shortly after causing tech stock markets around the world to collapse and becoming the top-rated app on the Apple App Store in the US, DeepSeek, the recently launched China-owned artificial intelligence (AI) tool, has dethroned WhatsApp as the top Android app in Pakistan.
The Chinese AI chatbot's rapid ascent to the top spot on the Google Play Store in Pakistan follows the turmoil it spurred in the ever-evolving realm of AI, prompting industry investors of the once-in-the-lead AI bellwethers, such as OpenAI, to question the flurry of hefty investments they make.
DeepSeek's quick, unmatched popularity shot up within days after the AI chatbot made it live, powered by the Chinese startup's R1 reasoning model which is claimed to deliver smart and relevant responses.
The development testifies that the tech-savvy segment of the country was overwhelmed by the tool and rushed to explore its capabilities which the company claims outshines that of popular AI assistants including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.
Owing to its noteworthy performance across benchmarks coupled with below $6 million cost of development, DeepSeek has reportedly made it to the top of the App Store and Play Store in various other countries as well.
A considerable chunk of credit for making the chatbot a formidable contender against well-established counterparts goes to its intelligent and contextually aware responses, meanwhile some of it is also attributed to its user-friendly interface allowing users to explore its depths without encountering any hassle.
