India has emerged as the largest contributor of new users to Chinese artificial intelligence chatbot DeepSeek AI, which has created a storm over the past week, according to a report by news agency Bloomberg.
DeepSeek has become the most downloaded mobile app across 140 markets since its launch in January 2025, the report said.
The app, which reached the No. 1 spot on Apple Inc.'s App Store on January 26 and has maintained its position globally, has seen India contribute a remarkable 15.6% of all downloads, according to data from Appfigures. In just 18 days, DeepSeek garnered 16 million downloads, nearly doubling the initial downloads of OpenAI's ChatGPT during its debut.
Despite its success, DeepSeek faces scrutiny regarding cybersecurity risks. Reports indicate that hundreds of firms and government agencies have blocked access to the app due to concerns over data privacy, potential vulnerabilities and cybersecurity.
This echoes previous incidents in India, such as the controversy surrounding TikTok in 2020, when security concerns led to a nationwide ban, affecting millions of users and creators. Similarly, the rise of other apps like Helo faced scrutiny over data privacy issues.
The app's rapid rise can be attributed to its competitive pricing and impressive AI capabilities, which have drawn both admiration and concern within the industry. While it offers similar functionalities to established AI bots at a fraction of the cost, this success has raised eyebrows among tech giants and investors alike. The explosive growth of DeepSeek has even led to fluctuations in global stock markets, suggesting that popular AI applications could be developed without hefty investments in hardware.
As DeepSeek continues to capture attention, its future growth may hinge on addressing these cybersecurity implications while maintaining user trust.
