Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has launched its new V4-Flash model, which is reportedly the cheapest major AI model to operate globally.Research firm Artificial Analysis found V4-Flash costs significantly less to run than competitors, including Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5 and OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 Sol.The launch intensifies pressure on US AI companies, as Chinese firms are developing powerful, more cost-effective artificial intelligence systems.This release highlights the escalating AI competition between China and the United States, with Chinese developers increasingly focusing on both capability and price to challenge Western rivals.While V4-Flash is the lowest-cost model, its performance scored 50 out of 100 on Artificial Analysis’ Intelligence Index, matching Google’s Gemini 3.6 Flash but trailing leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic. Do you think that China will tap into African markets due to its price ?
