Profiting from Free AI: The Lucrative Business of Selling DeepSeek Installation Packages

When our reporter asked the store's customer service about the product, they replied that while DeepSeek can be downloaded for free, the download process can be difficult. Our reporter purchased the installation package for 9.9 yuan and received a link to a cloud storage file containing text-based installation instructions, video tutorials, and the model itself. However, we discovered that these materials can be easily found online for free. If the sales figures are accurate, the store's revenue would exceed 200,000 yuan, even if all sales were of the basic package.

We also found a paid knowledge community on the "Knowledge Star" app, where a group called "Using DeepSeek to Make Money in College" was ranked first in the weekly wealth chart. The group has over 6,000 members and charges a 62-yuan membership fee. The group's introduction claims that the owner is a veteran programmer who will share usage tips and practical cases to help members utilize DeepSeek to seize AI opportunities and increase efficiency or make money through side hustles. The group also explicitly states that members can sell DeepSeek-related materials, courses, and consulting services, and offers a 3-day refund policy.

On a short-video platform, a stock blogger was found to be using DeepSeek to analyze stock market trends and offering paid courses on how to use the model for stock trading. The blogger's introduction claims to have 12 years of investment experience, 14 years of programming experience, and 10 years of experience in a private research institute. Many netizens asked in the comments how to use DeepSeek for stock trading, with some expressing willingness to pay for tutorials. This phenomenon is not new, as similar "get rich quick" schemes and tutorials were sold online in the past when ChatGPT and OpenAI were popular, often with questionable value.

A closer look at the sales of DeepSeek installation packages reveals a concerning trend. Despite the free availability of the necessary information online, several stores are selling these packages, often with basic installation guides and videos, for prices ranging from $1.45 to $2.90. Some of these stores claim to have sold over 200,000 copies, generating revenues exceeding $290,000. This raises questions about the legitimacy of these sales and whether consumers are being misled into paying for something they can easily obtain at no cost.

The apparent success of these stores in selling DeepSeek installation packages, despite the free availability of the necessary information online, highlights a blurred line between providing a genuine service and exploiting customers' ignorance. The scale of these operations, with sales figures reaching into the hundreds of thousands, indicates a large and potentially vulnerable market. It's a market where the line between providing value and preying on the lack of awareness or technical savvy of potential buyers is blurred.

Industry insiders have been weighing in on the phenomenon, with a consensus that mastering DeepSeek requires significant effort and dedication, making it unthinkable that such expertise could be sold for mere pennies. Some have drawn historical parallels to highlight the opportunism at play, noting that during the 19th-century gold rush, it was not the gold miners who amassed the greatest fortunes, but the suppliers of pickaxes and other mining tools. In today's rush to profit from AI, it seems that selling 'AI pickaxes'—in the form of access to AI tools like DeepSeek—has become a lucrative business model in its own right.

This reflection prompts a deeper examination of the AI economy and how value is being captured and distributed within it. As AI technologies continue to advance and permeate various industries, the market for AI tools and solutions is likely to expand. However, the phenomenon of selling access to these tools at high prices also raises questions about accessibility, equity, and the potential for monopolistic practices that could stifle innovation. Ultimately, the flurry of activity around DeepSeek and similar AI tools points to a larger narrative about the commercialization of artificial intelligence, highlighting the need for a more nuanced conversation about the role of AI in the economy and the importance of ensuring that its benefits are accessible to all, rather than just a privileged few.