After triggering price war, DeepSeek reverses course with surcharge on peak-hour API use
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, initially lowered its API prices, sparking a price competition with other providers. The company has now reversed that strategy by adding a surcharge for API calls made during peak hours. The move is intended to curb excessive usage and stabilize revenue.
- ▪DeepSeek cut its API pricing earlier, prompting a price war among AI service providers.
- ▪DeepSeek announced a new surcharge applied to API requests during high-demand periods.
- ▪The surcharge is expected to discourage heavy usage during peak times and improve profitability.
- ▪Industry analysts view the shift as a sign that the AI API market is moving toward more sustainable pricing models.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
.css-1e339y7{z-index:1400;}.css-1e339y7 .MuiDrawer-paper{overflow-y:hidden;}.css-1e339y7 .MuiDrawer-modal{background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);}.css-1h2k762{z-index:1200;z-index:1400;}.css-1h2k762 .MuiDrawer-paper{overflow-y:hidden;}.css-1h2k762 .MuiDrawer-modal{background:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);}.css-1whztno{position:relative;}.css-1whztno:first-of-type .er6t7fe40>*:first-child{padding-block-start:0;}.css-ahnbry>*:first-child{padding-block:var(--mobile-widget-gap, 16px);}@media (min-width:768px){.css-ahnbry>*:first-child{padding-block:40px;}}.css-hhdj32{--content-tablet-up-max-inline-size:600px;--widget-extra-padding:12px;--mobile-widget-gap:16px;--desktop-widget-gap:18px;display:grid;grid:"header-container" min-content "leading" min-content "content-container" min-content "widgets-bottom"…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at South China Morning Post.