Chinese AI startup DeepSeek made its 75% promotional discount on the flagship V4-Pro API permanent. The new standard pricing replaces a temporary offer originally set to expire in May 2026. Developer costs will remain at 25% of their original level. This pricing significantly undercuts major competitors including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.
The decision intensifies the generative AI price war and positions DeepSeek as a low-cost alternative for enterprises. DeepSeek previously cited high-end computing constraints as a factor in its pricing strategy. It remains unclear if an increased supply of Huawei Ascend 950 AI chips influenced the early permanent price cut.