DeepSeek breaks the internet: Social media erupts with memes and reactions

From rivaling ChatGPT to triggering a stock market plunge, DeepSeek has the internet buzzing with memes & hot takes.

The tech world is in chaos, and Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is at the center of it all. Since the release of its groundbreaking AI model, R1, DeepSeek has become a global sensation, sparking a wildfire of memes, debates, and reactions across social media.

“It’s a side project. I call it DeepSeek.” pic.twitter.com/n1H1KddeFA

— Jack Forge (@TheJackForge) January 25, 2025

With its ability to rival OpenAI’s capabilities at a fraction of the cost, DeepSeek has not only disrupted the AI industry but also sent shockwaves through the stock market, leaving tech giants like Nvidia, Meta, and Google reeling.

Hey guys my favorite Bay Area nonprofit is facing chinese attacks and needs our help

— Daniel (@growing_daniel) January 27, 2025

The internet, as always, has been quick to react. From hilarious memes to sharp political commentary, social media platforms are flooded with takes on DeepSeek’s meteoric rise. One user joked, "Europeans watching DeepSeek overtake ChatGPT on Apple App Store," while another highlighted the irony of the situation: "So there's this Chinese company called DeepSeek which basically does what OpenAI initially intended to do. They open-sourced a model trained with large-scale reinforcement learning, beating everyone else, and even releasing a paper detailing their process."

Europeans watching DeepSeek overtake ChatGPT on Apple App Store pic.twitter.com/1V292CBwzm

— Michael A. Arouet (@MichaelAArouet) January 27, 2025

“So there’s this Chinese company called DeepSeek which basically does what OpenAI initially intended to do. They open-sourced a model trained with large-scale reinforcement learning, beating everyone else, and even releasing a paper detailing their process“ pic.twitter.com/5za7OhW1Xk

— Niels Rogge (@NielsRogge) January 21, 2025

The affordability of DeepSeek’s R1 model—reportedly costing just $6 million to develop—has been a major talking point. One tweet quipped, "China just outplayed U.S. billionaires who want to use AI to further enrich themselves & control the planet by releasing a version called DeepSeek that is open source, free, and available to all. It is already #1 on Apple’s App store overtaking ChatGPT."

China just outplayed U.S. billionaires who want to use AI to further enrich themselves & control the planet by releasing a version called DeepSeek that is open source, free, and available to all. It is already #1 on Apple’s App store overtaking ChatGPT.

— Power to the People ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist) January 27, 2025

Even Elon Musk couldn’t resist joining the conversation. A viral meme comparing ChatGPT and DeepSeek R1 to the infamous Turkish shooter at the Olympics last year caught his attention, adding to the frenzy.

i cant believe ChatGPT lost its job to AI

— terminally onλine εngineer 🇺🇦 (@tekbog) January 27, 2025

Lololol pic.twitter.com/2Vi37UbGUM

— Rui Ma 马睿 (@ruima) January 26, 2025

But beyond the memes and jokes, DeepSeek’s rise has sparked deeper conversations about the future of AI and the role of open-source technology. Some users expressed concerns about the safety of using DeepSeek’s model, with one tweet warning, "Do not upload sensitive data to DeepSeek." Others pointed out the hubris of the American tech industry, with one post mocking the timing of the $500 billion Stargate AI project announcement just before DeepSeek’s breakthrough.

Social media has played a crucial role in shaping the narrative around DeepSeek, blending humor with information to help people make sense of the complex story. As one user put it, "DeepSeek is breaking the internet, but that wouldn’t be possible without social media."

“Market’s down.”

“Why?”

“China.”

“What happened? Did they invade Taiwan early? Did their economy collapse?”

“They made a slightly faster chatbot.”

— ᴍᴇᴅ ɢᴏʟᴅ 🐒 (@MedGold_) January 27, 2025

DeepSeek Covid-19
🤝

A Chinese lab releasing a surprise and
taking down US markets

— Geiger Capital (@Geiger_Capital) January 27, 2025

Whether you’re laughing at the memes or pondering the implications for the tech industry, one thing is clear: DeepSeek has not only disrupted the AI landscape but also become a cultural phenomenon, proving that innovation doesn’t always come with a billion-dollar price tag.