DeepSeek takes over ChatGPT in Türkiye
File photo shows DeepSeek logo is seen on a mobile screen in Ankara, Türkiye on Jan. 27, 2024. (AA Photo)
Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot DeepSeek gained widespread popularity among Turkish users following its rapid debut on Monday, surpassing its U.S. rival ChatGPT in downloads on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in Türkiye.
According to Google Play Store rankings, DeepSeek secured the second spot on the “Most Popular Free” list with a 4.8 rating out of 5, surpassing widely used apps such as WhatsApp and TikTok. It trailed only behind Temu, the Chinese e-commerce platform.
On the Apple App Store, however, DeepSeek claimed the top position, outperforming Temu, the Turkish e-government app, Google Maps, and even Google itself.
How DeepSeek took over ChatGPT in Türkiye?
The chatbot developed by DeepSeek, a startup based in Hangzhou, China, has demonstrated the ability to rival U.S. AI leaders while operating on a fraction of their investment. Despite significantly lower development costs of only $5.6 million compared to American tech giants, DeepSeek’s AI assistant has quickly gained popularity worldwide since its debut on Jan. 27, reflecting its competitive capabilities.
DeepSeek’s latest R1 model is freely available on both desktop and mobile, offering performance on par with its main competitor, ChatGPT’s o1, while delivering faster speeds in tasks such as coding, mathematics, and writing.
In Türkiye, ChatGPT’s latest model, o1, is only available to paid subscribers, costing at least $20 (₺715.39) per month. In contrast, DeepSeek serves as a lifeline for budget-conscious users, including students, by offering advanced AI capabilities for free.
