Tencent, Baidu Look to Capitalize on DeepSeek’s Stunning Rise
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Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Baidu Inc. are launching search functions powered by the large language models developed by DeepSeek, joining the ranks of global tech giants seeking to capitalize on the rise of the artificial intelligence (AI) developer that has sent a shockwave through the industry.
Tencent, for example, is incorporating the full version of the DeepSeek-R1 model into Weixin, the Chinese version of its instant messaging app WeChat, to power its search capabilities, though the function is still in beta testing, Tencent told Caixin in a statement Sunday.
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- DIGEST HUB
- Tencent and Baidu are incorporating DeepSeek's AI language models into their platforms, with Tencent testing the R1 model in Weixin's search feature and Baidu planning integration with its Ernie model.
- DeepSeek's R1 model, trained on 671 billion parameters, offers quick and deep thinking response options, based on publicly available data, while protecting user privacy.
- DeepSeek’s website traffic surged twentyfold in January, sparking concerns over potential U.S. export restrictions on AI technology to China due to its rapid rise and industry penetration.
- Tencent Holdings Ltd.
- Tencent Holdings Ltd. is integrating DeepSeek's R1 language model into Weixin, the Chinese version of WeChat, for AI-powered search functions. Currently in beta, selected users can access these features through the "Search with AI" option. The R1 model offers "quick answer" and "deep thinking" search options. Tencent, which has also incorporated DeepSeek models into an AI coding assistant and chatbot, has not specified a launch timeline, pending beta test results and user feedback.
- Baidu Inc.
- Baidu Inc. plans to integrate DeepSeek models and its own Ernie AI model into its search engine but hasn't provided a launch timetable. Recently, Baidu announced that Ernie Bot will be completely free starting April 1, which is viewed as a response to DeepSeek's free AI chatbot launch. Baidu CEO Robin Li stressed the need for continued investment in AI to maintain competitiveness and expressed optimism about enterprise applications, though consumer-facing AI hasn't yet dominated like mobile internet.
- DeepSeek
- DeepSeek is an AI developer that gained prominence with its R1 model, which is trained more cost-effectively than models from OpenAI and Google, but with comparable capabilities. Its rapid rise has led to partnerships with tech giants like Tencent and Baidu for AI-powered search functions. Despite concerns over U.S. tech export restrictions, DeepSeek's site traffic surged significantly, suggesting a strong market interest.
- Microsoft Corp.
- Earlier this month, Microsoft Corp. was among the tech giants that added DeepSeek's AI models to their offerings, aiming to attract more developers and users.
- Amazon Web Services Inc.
- Earlier this month, Amazon Web Services Inc., along with other tech giants, integrated DeepSeek's AI models into their offerings. This move aims to attract more developers and users by leveraging the advanced capabilities of DeepSeek's technology.
- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is among the tech giants that have integrated DeepSeek's AI models into their offerings. This move is part of an effort by both U.S. and Chinese tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Alibaba, and ByteDance, to attract more developers and users by incorporating advanced AI capabilities like those offered by DeepSeek.
- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
- Earlier this month, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., along with other tech giants like Microsoft and Huawei, integrated DeepSeek’s AI models into their offerings to attract more developers and users.
- ByteDance Ltd.
- ByteDance Ltd. is among the tech giants that have incorporated DeepSeek's AI models into their offerings. This move is part of a broader trend where tech companies, including U.S. and Chinese firms like Microsoft Corp., Amazon Web Services Inc., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., aim to attract more developers and users by utilizing these advanced AI capabilities.
- Huatai Securities Co. Ltd.
- In a recent opinion piece, analysts from Huatai Securities Co. Ltd. expressed concerns that DeepSeek's rise might prompt Washington to tighten export controls on high-end AI chips and limit U.S. tech firms from open-sourcing large models, aiming to prevent the spread of AI technology to China.
- January 2025:
- DeepSeek gains global attention with the launch of its R1 model, trained more cheaply than models from OpenAI and Google.
- February 9-15, 2025:
- Baidu CEO Robin Li attends the World Governments Summit in Dubai, addresses questions regarding DeepSeek's rapid rise.
- Before February 16, 2025:
- Tencent has already integrated DeepSeek models into several products, including an AI coding assistant and an AI chatbot app called Tencent Yuanbao.
- By February 16, 2025:
- DeepSeek's website traffic increases more than twentyfold in January 2025, reaching 278 million visits.
- February 16, 2025:
- Tencent announces the integration of DeepSeek-R1 model in WeChat for beta testing of AI-powered search capabilities. Baidu also announces plans to integrate DeepSeek models and its proprietary Ernie AI model into its search engine.
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