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Library/App & software/DeepSeek AI Assistant
Grade B27 sourcesHIS-00115

DeepSeek AI Assistant

App & software · 2025 · Notable

58Editable slideCertificate

A free AI assistant reached an estimated 127 million app downloads by June.

Official DeepSeek app screenshot from its app announcement.
DeepSeek
A example of DeepSeek response
User:Phudeptrai47540370870 / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
DeepSeek Explodes on the AI Scene | Similarweb
Similarweb
DeepSeek displaces ChatGPT as the App Store's top app | TechCrunch
TechCrunch
South Korea blocks downloads of DeepSeek from local app stores | TechCrunch
TechCrunch

Spread Score

How it works
Reach79Contagion35Breadth80Velocity65Longevity1358

Numbers

January downloads, lower bound through Jan 28 (Sensor Tower)
23M
As of Jan 28, 2025 · App stores · Sensor Tower
Seed to peak
3 weeks
Jan 10 ’25 to Jan 28 ’25
Platforms
4
Started on App stores
Origin
Seeded
Technology

Mechanics

  • Underdog
  • Platform jump
  • Press loopPrimary
  • Controversy
  • Pairing
  • Dupe economy

How it spread

Trace the origin

DeepSeek launched its app on January 10 and R1 on January 20. VC posts and press accompanied its US app-chart lead on January 26. Nvidia lost $593 billion the next day. Sign-up limits and privacy scrutiny followed; Sensor Tower estimated 127 million downloads by June.

Google searchesJan ’25FebMarAprMayJunJulPeakXApp storesOpen webPress
XApp storesOpen webPress

14 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

Timeline (17)

  1. December 2024

    @deepseek_ai precursor · Dec 26 ’24

    DeepSeek introduced V3, the model that powered the app at launch.[1][2]

    DeepSeek Explodes on the AI Scene | Similarweb
    Open the first post ↗

  2. January 2025

    DeepSeek seed · Jan 10 ’25

    DeepSeek released its free AI Assistant app on iOS and Android.[3][4]

  3. DeepSeek owner response · Jan 15 ’25

    DeepSeek announced the app with web search, Deep-Think mode and no in-app purchases.[2]

Changelogupdated Oct 16 ’26
  1. 2026-10-16Revised 9 numbers
  2. 2026-10-14Fact-check passed (45 claims)
  3. 2026-10-13Revised 3 events · Added 2 sources · Archived 3 sources · Added 1 number · Revised 4 numbers · Added 2 evidence checks · Score 54 → 58
  4. 2026-10-12Added: 16 events, 24 sources · Score 54
Origin
Seeded
Sector
Technology
Region
CN
January downloads, lower bound through Jan 28 (Sensor Tower)
23M
As of Jan 28, 2025 · App stores · Sensor Tower
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

EPIK AI Yearbook

App stores · 2023

53
How I wish this was my college yearbook creative photos 😅 #photodumps #yearbookAIphotos #AI #epikapp #yearbooktrend #fyp #viral

Peaked at #1

Supermarket Simulator

Open web · 2024

49
Official Steam screenshot of Supermarket Simulator.

$20M revenue

SCUM

Open web · 2018

46
SCUM v1.0: A survival game’s second wind through strategic creator marketing - Case Study

6M sold

Pepe (PEPE)

X · 2023

16
Today. $PEPE #MMGA

Peaked at #3

New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.

See every timeline

Free account, every case's full spread.

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Google searchesJan ’25FebMarAprMayJunJulPeakXApp storesOpen webPress
XApp storesOpen webPress

14 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. December 2024

    @deepseek_ai precursor · Dec 26 ’24

    DeepSeek introduced V3, the model that powered the app at launch.[1][2]

    DeepSeek Explodes on the AI Scene | Similarweb
    Open the first post ↗

  2. January 2025

    DeepSeek seed · Jan 10 ’25

    DeepSeek released its free AI Assistant app on iOS and Android.[3][4]

  3. DeepSeek owner response · Jan 15 ’25

    DeepSeek announced the app with web search, Deep-Think mode and no in-app purchases.[2]

  1. platform jump · Jan 20 ’25

  2. commercial · Jan 24 ’25

Join free to see the other 14 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

Join free

Why it worked

Do this

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

Pro opens the playbook, all 17 sourced numbers and 27 sources. Start with a free account.

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