Compute Resources
Search documents
DeepSeek blew up markets year ago. Why hasn't it done so since?
CNBC· 2026-01-06 06:00
Core Insights - DeepSeek's introduction of a new AI model in January 2025 caused significant market reactions, leading to a decline in stock prices of major Western tech companies, but the market has since stabilized and companies like Nvidia have seen substantial growth [1][2][3] Group 1: Market Reactions and Recovery - Following DeepSeek's initial model release, Nvidia's stock fell 17%, resulting in a loss of nearly $600 billion in market capitalization, while Broadcom and ASML also experienced significant declines [1] - Eleven months later, Nvidia achieved a $5 trillion valuation, Broadcom's shares increased by 49%, and ASML's stock rose by 36% [2] Group 2: DeepSeek's Model Releases - DeepSeek released its V3 model in late 2024, which was trained using less powerful chips and at a lower cost compared to models from OpenAI and Google [3][4] - The subsequent release of the R1 reasoning model in January 2025 surprised the market, as it matched or outperformed leading LLMs [4] Group 3: Market Dynamics and Spending - Despite initial concerns about reduced demand for AI infrastructure due to DeepSeek's model, spending in the AI sector did not slow down in 2025 and is expected to accelerate in 2026 and beyond [6][7] - The market has perceived DeepSeek's later model updates as incremental improvements rather than groundbreaking innovations [7] Group 4: Computational Limitations - DeepSeek has faced challenges in releasing new models due to limited computing power, particularly with the delay of the R2 model due to difficulties in training on Huawei chips [8][9] - U.S. restrictions on chip sales have constrained China's access to advanced computing resources, impacting DeepSeek's development capabilities [9][10] Group 5: Competitive Landscape - The release of advanced models by Western companies like OpenAI and Google has reassured the market of continued U.S. leadership in AI, easing fears of commoditization [12][13] - Analysts suggest that the competitive environment remains intense, with expectations of further significant releases from DeepSeek in the near future [13][14]