DeepSeek Triggers Free Tide of Large Language Models
DeepSeek's "catfish effect" persists, now centering on the prices of AI large models. On February 13, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman announced GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 releases soon, with free ChatGPT getting unrestricted GPT-5 access. The same day, ERNIE Bot declared full-scale free use from April 1.
Previously, large models mainly had paid-use models. But since DeepSeek-V2 cut prices in 2024, a "price-drop tide" began. DeepSeek-R1 further pushed it towards "zero-cost". Now, with both OpenAI and Baidu going free, the price war escalates.
Experts say this "free tide" is due to cost-reduction tech advancements and enterprises seeking market advantage. DeepSeek, being free and open-source with strong capabilities, has attracted many users. Its success is forcing AI firms to adjust business models, and more are embracing it. This trend is also spurring exploration of new business models and application-side development.(Photo/VCG)
By Wang Xinyuan,Fan Xing,Liu Lingxi (Intern) and Jia Jiye/ China Youth Daily
