DeepSeek Limits API Access Amid Surging Demand for Its AI Model

DeepSeek Limits Access to AI Model as Demand Strains Capacity

DeepSeek, the Chinese startup whose artificial-intelligence model roiled global markets last week, said it would restrict access to its application programming interface service because of shortages with its server capacity. In a posting on its website, the company said it suspended the ability of customers to top up their API credits to avoid any broader impact on their services. Any existing stored values won't be affected, it added.

DeepSeek Restricts Access as AI Model Balloons in Popularity | PYMNTS.com

DeepSeek's artificial intelligence model is reportedly too popular for its own good. The Chinese startup said it is limiting access to its API service because of shortages with its server capacity, Bloomberg reported Thursday (Feb. 6). "Due to current server resource constraints, we have temporarily suspended API service recharges to prevent any potential impact on your operations," the company said, per a Thursday Engadget report. "Existing balances can still be used for calls. We appreciate your understanding!" DeepSeek made headlines -- and sent a number of tech stocks tumbling -- last month when it launched an AI model that it said could perform at the same level of its much larger, better-funded rivals in the United States for a fraction of the cost. The introduction of the company's chatbots came as AI reached an inflection point, with factors such as cost and environmental concerns stifling adoption and accessibility, Gokul Naidu, a consultant for SAP, told PYMNTS Jan. 27. "DeepSeek challenges the narrative that innovation must come at an unsustainable cost," Naidu said. "For businesses, this means AI could soon be accessible to small and medium enterprises, not just tech giants with deep pockets." In addition to limiting API service access, DeepSeek also said Thursday that it is ending discounts to access the model Saturday (Feb. 8), per the Bloomberg report. "This should be a no-brainer in terms of actions we should take immediately to prevent our enemy from getting information from our government," Gottheimer said. Similar bans are already in place in Australia, Taiwan and Italy -- and the state of Texas -- while DeepSeek is being investigated in Belgium, France, Ireland and South Korea.

DeepSeek limits model access due to overwhelming server demand

DeepSeek recent explosion in popularity continues to be a problem for the AI startup. In a notification spotted by Bloomberg, the company said it was temporarily limiting access to its application programming interface service in response to a shortage of server capacity. "Due to current server resource constraints, we have temporarily suspended API service recharges to prevent any potential impact on your operations," DeepSeek said. "Existing balances can still be used for calls. We appreciate your understanding!" Separately, DeepSeek announced pricing for its chat model would increase to $0.27 per million input tokens and $1.10 per million output tokens starting February 8. DeepSeek has been dealing with overwhelming demand for its services since the debut of its R1 model on January 20. The company's emergence as a leading premier AI provider, and the fact it was able to train R1 for a fraction of the price it cost OpenAI to develop its o1 reasoning model, sent US investors into a panic. Major tech stocks, including NVIDIA, shed $1 trillion of value the Monday after DeepSeek's chatbot hit the top of the App Store. Since then, OpenAI has released its o3-mini model and Deep Research feature for ChatGPT.

DeepSeek restricts access to its AI model -- What's behind the move?

DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence startup, has announced that it will be limiting access to its application programming interface (API) service due to capacity constraints on its servers. In a statement on its official website, DeepSeek explained that it had temporarily suspended the option for customers to add additional credits to their API accounts in order to prevent further disruptions to its services However, the company reassured users that any credits already stored in their accounts would remain unaffected and available for use. "The existing recharge amount can continue to be used, please understand," the company added. DeepSeek has seen a massive rise in demand for its services since the launch of its AI chatbot in late January. The company said that the chatbot is capable of competing with OpenAI's ChatGPT, offering similar capabilities at a significantly lower cost. Also Read : Amazon to unveil major AI upgrade for Alexa at February 26 event Initially, DeepSeek restricted access to the chatbot by only allowing new users with a mainland China phone number to sign up. The chatbot has since garnered attention for its ability to offer advanced AI-powered conversations while remaining cost-effective compared to other models in the market. The hype surrounding DeepSeek's new AI model has had a significant impact on global markets, triggering a $1-trillion decline in US and European tech stocks. The rise in interest in the Chinese company's AI capabilities has also prompted the United States to tighten regulations on the sale of chips for AI applications. US officials are now investigating whether DeepSeek managed to acquire Nvidia semiconductors through third parties in Singapore, potentially bypassing the export restrictions on AI chips to China. DeepSeek, which had raised concerns among competitors because of its low pricing, announced that discounts for its AI model would end on February 8. After that, access to its chat model will cost 2 yuan per million input tokens and 8 yuan per million output tokens. Once its reasoning model is available, the charges will rise to 4 yuan per million input tokens and 16 yuan per million output tokens. Also Read : Google rolls out Gemini 2.0 for all users: What you need to know about latest AI models 1. What is DeepSeek? DeepSeek is a Chinese startup focused on developing artificial intelligence models, including a chatbot designed to rival OpenAI's ChatGPT.. 2. How does DeepSeek differ from ChatGPT? DeepSeek differs from ChatGPT in several ways, primarily in terms of cost, development and target market. DeepSeek offers its AI models at a significantly lower cost compared to ChatGPT.

DeepSeek temporarily suspends API service top-ups

BEIJING, Feb 6 (Reuters) - DeepSeek has temporarily suspended API service top-ups, a platform that allows developers of other models to integrate its AI models, due to server resource constraints, its website showed Thursday. The Chinese AI start-up has in the past two weeks faced server issues due to the high traffic spurred by the global clamour. Reporting by Beijing Newsroom Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Artificial Intelligence