DeepSeek announces 75% ‘Off peak’ hours sale, and why it is ‘bad news’ for its rivals in the US and Europe

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has announced an off-peak discount program, offering up to 75% off on its advanced AI models, DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. This move is set to disrupt the AI market, posing a significant challenge to rivals in the US and Europe.

Starting today, DeepSeek’s API platform will provide substantial savings during specific hours. From 16:30 to 00:30 UTC daily, DeepSeek-V3 will be available at a 50% discount, while DeepSeek-R1 will see an impressive 75% price reduction. This initiative aims to encourage users to optimise resource usage and leverage cost-effective AI services during less busy periods.