DeepSeek AI, the Chinese-AI startup app has taken the internet by storm. Within a short span, DeepSeek has risen to prominence, surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT in App Store rankings and solidifying its place as one of the most talked-about AI tools in recent times. Its cutting-edge capabilities and open-source nature have made it a favorite among tech enthusiasts and researchers alike.
DeepSeek: Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India will develop its own foundational AI model and an AI safety institution will be established to advance the country’s AI ambitions.
In Short
Ashwini Vaishnaw says India plans to create its own AI model
18,693 GPUs to be empanelled for computing facility
AI safety institution to be established, Union Minister adds
Union Minister of Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Thursday announced that DeepSeek, the popular Chinese open-source Artificial Intelligence model, will soon be hosted on Indian servers in order to address privacy concerns.
The minister added that India will create its own foundational model in the coming months, as he outlined the country’s AI ambitions. The minister further announced empanelment of 18,693 graphics processing units (GPUs) under a common computing facility.
Making a slew of announcements that promise to put India on global AI centre-stage, Vaishnaw also said an AI safety institution will be started.
“Making modern tech accessible to everyone, that is the economic thinking of our PM… Ours is the most affordable compute facility, at this point of time,” IT Minister Vaishnaw said.
The government announced over Rs 10,300 crore AI investment in March, dubbed IndiaAI mission, which includes funding for AI startups and developing its own AI infrastructure.
“Some people question the amount of investment the government has committed to the (IndiaAI mission). You have seen what DeepSeek has done? $5.5 million and a very, very powerful model. Because of the use of the brain,” Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday at an event in the eastern state of Odisha.
The minister’s remarks seemed to reflect OpenAI’s Sam Altman’s comments, in which, during his visit to India last year, he expressed skepticism about an Indian team being able to develop a significant model in the AI domain.
The DeepSeek AI model, developed by a Chinese startup and released recently, has made significant waves in the AI domain. Known as DeepSeek R1, this model has been praised for its efficiency and effectiveness, particularly in complex reasoning tasks. Downloads of its app recently surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT on Apple’s App Store.
How To Use DeepSeek On Mobile In India
If you’re eager to try DeepSeek, here’s how you can get started:
- Download the App: Available for free on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
- Create an Account: Sign up using your email, mobile number, or Google account.
- Start Exploring: Once registered, you can begin chatting with the AI and enjoying its many features.
Is DeepSeek Available In India?
Although the app has gained massive popularity, it has encountered certain limitations in India. DeepSeek has restricted new sign-ups from outside mainland China due to “large-scale malicious attacks” on its systems. As a result, users in India may face difficulties in fully accessing the app.
Can You Use DeepSeek In India?
Yes, if you already have an account, you can use DeepSeek in India without trouble.
A message on DeepSeek’s website reads: “Due to large-scale malicious attacks on DeepSeek’s services, registration may be busy. Please wait and try again. Registered users can log in normally. Thank you for your understanding and support.”
So for users who already have an account, the app remains functional in India on both Android and iPhone devices.
DeepSeek recently clarified its official presence in a post on X.
“To prevent any potential harm, we reiterate that @deepseek_ai is our sole official account on Twitter/X. Any accounts representing us, using identical avatars, or similar names are impersonations. Please stay vigilant to avoid being misled!”
Although DeepSeek has rapidly gained popularity for its advanced capabilities, the AI’s interactions are significantly limited by the censorship imposed by Chinese authorities. When tested, DeepSeek avoided discussions on sensitive topics such as the Tiananmen Square massacre, the 1962 Indo-Sino War, India’s northeastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, human rights issues in Xinjiang, Taiwan, Hong Kong protests, and South China Sea disputes. While Western AI models provide detailed responses on these matters, DeepSeek’s replies were often evasive.
