“I can't believe ChatGPT lost its job to AI”: Users are cracking up as Chinese AI startup DeepSeek R1 makes waves

Forget what you thought you knew about AI because DeepSeek has turned 2025 on its head. The Chinese startup dropped its R1 model, and instantly put OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the dust.

DeepSeek’s R1 took over the top spot on the Apple App Store but it isn’t just a flash in the pan. With a jaw-dropping price tag and some seriously sharp tech, it’s turning heads for all the right reasons.

Meanwhile, social media is ablaze with humorous reactions. An X (formerly Twitter) user noted: “i cant believe ChatGPT lost its job to AI”

Another user added: “Wild that the first victim of AI job replacement is the AI itself 🤣”

A user hilariously mentioned: “It's an AI eat AI world out there.”

A comment read: “Wild, right? The irony of AI getting outpaced by even more efficient AI feels like the ultimate tech karma. Adapt or get replaced 🌝 guess the machines aren’t immune either.”

A user posted: “Europeans watching DeepSeek overtake ChatGPT on Apple App Store.”

Another user said: “chatGPT is the first AI to lose it's job because of an AI.”

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ChatGPT vs DeepSeek R1

When you break it down, the differences between DeepSeek R1 and ChatGPT are pretty clear. The price difference stands out as DeepSeek R1 starts at a $0.50 monthly subscription while ChatGPT demands $20 per month.

Accessibility to open-source code defines DeepSeek as the winner when comparing open-source features against rival systems. The MIT License makes DeepSeek R1 available to developers through its source code thereby enabling developers to modify the system any way they please.

On ChatGPT—everything's locked up tight and proprietary.

In terms of performance, DeepSeek R1 has an edge, especially in math and reasoning tasks. It beats ChatGPT to a good extent in logical reasoning.

The user interface turns out to be another standout characteristic of DeepSeek R1. Its unadorned minimalistic design creates a direct appeal to those who prefer practical approaches.

ChatGPT operates through its classic text box interface which maintains a sense of comfort for most users despite the traditional design.

Last but not least, on accessibility, DeepSeek R1 wins again with its free web app, whereas ChatGPT locks you behind a subscription paywall.

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Market impact and future implications

DeepSeek R1 is giving the tech industry a jolt. We're talking about Nvidia, which officially lost nearly $600 billion in market value.

That’s a billion with a "B."

So, what’s the deal with DeepSeek R1? This AI is 20 to 50 times cheaper than OpenAI’s models for pretty much any task.

Big-name companies like Alibaba and Tencent are already feeling the heat and are probably scrambling to update their pricing strategy as we speak.

Marc Andreessen, General partner of Andreessen Horowitz, just dubbed this whole thing “AI’s Sputnik moment,” as per Aljazeera.

But before you panic and sell all your stocks, UBS analysts are here to calm your nerves with their sage advice: “Buy on dips.”

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Who owns DeepSeek?

DeepSeek is a Chinese AI startup that’s fully owned by the High-Flyer hedge fund. It was founded in late 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, who’s also a co-founder of High-Flyer.

High-Flyer is famous for using AI to predict the stock market, and they’ve invested a lot of money into DeepSeek’s AI models. Recently, they launched DeepSeek R1, and it’s already making waves.