DeepSeek will double the price for access to its V4 AI models through its application programming interface during peak hours from 9am to noon and 2pm to 6pm Beijing time.
The Hangzhou-based AI unicorn said the surcharge applies to its API services and marks a reversal after a fierce domestic price war it helped trigger, in which rivals aggressively undercut each other to win market share.
The company said in an email to service subscribers the timing and pricing change were intended to achieve "better distribution of resources and [to] enhance service stability."
The change was communicated to subscribers in an email sent on Monday.
