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Chinese tech giant Tencent (0700.HK) has introduced its latest AI model, Hunyuan Turbo S, which it claims can respond to queries faster than DeepSeek’s R1, a recent breakthrough in AI technology. This development highlights the intensifying competition among Chinese tech firms in the AI space.
Faster AI Responses and Competitive Edge
Tencent emphasized that Hunyuan Turbo S can reply within a second, distinguishing itself from “slow-thinking” models like DeepSeek R1 and Hunyuan T1, which require more processing time before answering. Tencent further stated that in tests covering knowledge, mathematics, and reasoning, Turbo S’ capabilities matched DeepSeek-V3, the AI model powering DeepSeek’s chatbot, which has surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in app store downloads.
DeepSeek has not yet responded to Tencent’s claims.
DeepSeek’s Impact on China’s AI Market
The rapid rise of DeepSeek’s R1 and V3 models has disrupted the AI landscape, making them the first Chinese AI products widely adopted in Silicon Valley. This success has put pressure on established Chinese tech giants, including Tencent, to accelerate their AI model development.
Following DeepSeek-R1’s global impact and its role in triggering AI stock sell-offs outside China, competitors have been quick to respond. Last month, Alibaba (9988.HK) released the Qwen 2.5-Max model, claiming it outperforms DeepSeek-V3 across multiple benchmarks.
Cost-Effective AI Solutions
Tencent also revealed that Hunyuan Turbo S has significantly lower operational costs compared to its predecessors. This move reflects how DeepSeek’s open-source and low-cost strategy has forced major Chinese AI firms to reduce user charges, making AI solutions more accessible.
As competition among Chinese AI firms intensifies, the race to develop faster, cheaper, and more powerful AI models continues to reshape the global AI market.