Insight Report 3 minutesFree ReportDeepSeek: The Chinese AI Startup That Has Overtaken ChatGPT on Apple’s App Store Deborah Weinswig, CEO and Founder Sector Lead: John Harmon, CFA, Associate Director of Technology Research January 29, 2025 What's InsideOn January 27, 2025, DeepSeek overtook OpenAI’s ChatGPT on Apple’s App Store. What is DeepSeek? Meet the Chinese AI (artificial intelligence) startup that could change the game for retail. Companies mentioned in this report include: Apple, DeepSeek, OpenAI Other relevant research: More coverage of AI and GenAI in retail Visit the Coresight Research Retail Technology Hub to explore reports, data and competitive landscapes on technology. Executive SummaryHere’s What’s Happened On January 27, 2025, news broke that Chinese AI (artificial intelligence) startup DeepSeek had overtaken OpenAI’s ChatGPT on the Apple App Store. What Is DeepSeek? DeepSeek develops open-source LLMs (large language models). It aims to enhance data processing, analysis and decision-making capabilities across various sectors. DeepSeek’s applications are targeted toward solving real-world problems, with an industry-specific focus. The company also often works closely with businesses to implement its AI technologies, making it a hands-on partner for enterprises. DeepSeek is focused on the practical implementation of AI technologies to solve industry-specific real-world problems, while OpenAI is more oriented toward foundational research and general-purpose AI models. Here’s What’s Happened At 12:37 a.m. on Monday, January 27, 2025, news broke that Chinese AI (artificial intelligence) startup DeepSeek had overtaken OpenAI’s ChatGPT on the Apple App Store. What Is DeepSeek? For the retail industry, DeepSeek is a game-changer. The biggest differences between OpenAI and DeepSeek lie in their core focus areas, technological approaches and application domains. Here are the key distinctions: DeepSeek is more focused on practical, industry-specific applications of AI than OpenAI. It develops open-source LLMs (large language models), so it is learning at a faster rate. DeepSeek aims to enhance data processing, analysis and decision-making capabilities across various sectors. Its mission is to provide actionable insights and scalable AI solutions tailored to specific industry needs. Applications are more targeted toward solving real-world problems. For example, in healthcare, DeepSeek’s AI might focus on patient data analysis and predictive diagnostics, while in retail, it could be used for fraud/theft detection and risk assessment. This industry-specific focus allows DeepSeek to provide highly relevant offerings and more tailored solutions. In addition, the company often works closely with businesses to implement its AI technologies, which can include custom integrations, dedicated support and industry-specific optimization, making it a more hands-on partner for enterprises. While both OpenAI and DeepSeek are leaders in the AI space, DeepSeek is more focused on the practical implementation of AI technologies to solve industry-specific real-world problems. While it may engage in research, its primary goal is to deliver tangible business outcomes through AI. On the other hand, OpenAI is more oriented toward foundational research and general-purpose AI models. Coresight Research AI Council The Coresight Research AI Council brings together a community of top retailers, thought leaders and industry influencers on a monthly basis to explore cutting-edge innovations and critical developments in AI, and to ideate around AI implementation, best practices and risk mitigation. Our expert speakers from across the global retail and technology space go beyond the hype, delivering actionable insights that empower businesses to navigate AI opportunities and challenges. We discuss real-world use cases and robust AI strategies to distill the keys to success. Would you like to become a part of the AI Council community or participate in future sessions? Join us to dive deep into the transformative impact of AI on the retail industry, both today and in the future, and stay at the forefront of retail innovation. Please visit our Contact Us page or email contactus@coresight.com to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you! This document was generated for Other research you may be interested in: Consumer Activity Declines While Shopping Stays Steady: US Consumer Tracker 2023, Week 35Weinswig’s Weekly: Three Trends About the US Return to Office You Don’t Already KnowPrivate Label vs. Name Brands: Uncovering Growth Opportunities in the US Food and Beverage MarketAnalyst Corner: Three Technologies Driving the Future of US Retail, with Anand Kumar