DeepSeek Chatbot Downloads Plunge as AI Apps for Work and Study Surge in China
- tech360.tv
- Jul 24, 2025
- 2 min read
DeepSeek’s flagship chatbot saw a sharp decline in downloads and user engagement in the second quarter, as Chinese users increasingly turned to AI apps tailored for education and office productivity.
According to a report released Monday by QuestMobile and National Business Daily, the average monthly downloads of DeepSeek’s chatbot dropped 72% to 22.6 million in the April to June period, down from the previous quarter. The Hangzhou-based start-up had previously gained traction with its V3 and R1 AI models.
Despite maintaining the highest number of monthly active users (MAUs) in mainland China at 170 million, DeepSeek’s MAUs fell 9% quarter on quarter.
ByteDance’s Doubao overtook DeepSeek in downloads, reaching an average of 29.8 million per month in the second quarter, a 9.5% increase. Doubao’s MAUs also rose 30% to 130 million during the same period.
Other general-purpose chatbots also experienced declines. Tencent Holdings’ Yuanbao saw a 54% drop in average monthly downloads to 61.8 million, while Moonshot AI’s Kimi fell 58% to 35.3 million.
QuestMobile’s report noted a broader shift in user preference toward AI applications with specific functions, such as tools for learning and office tasks. Research director Chen Yan said general-purpose chatbots are losing appeal as users seek more targeted solutions.
Baidu’s search app, which integrates both Ernie Bot and DeepSeek’s models, was cited as an example of this trend. The report found that 59% of users who left DeepSeek’s chatbot in May switched to Ernie Bot in June.
AIcpb.com, which tracks AI app usage, reported that DeepSeek’s website traffic has declined by an average of 9.6% per month since March.
Meanwhile, lesser-known AI apps gained momentum. Tencent’s ima.copilot and 360 Security Technology’s 360 Wenku, both designed for office productivity, recorded MAU growth of 190% and 135%, respectively.
In the education sector, Zuoyebang’s Kuaidui AI and ByteDance’s Doubao Aixue became the fifth and sixth most popular consumer-facing AI apps by MAUs last quarter.
QuestMobile highlighted that the ability of AI apps to deliver productivity tools for work and education is now a key factor in their success.
Another reason for DeepSeek’s underperformance was the delayed launch of its R2 model, which had been expected in May.
The postponement was attributed to US export restrictions on Nvidia chips to China. Sales of Nvidia’s H20 AI chips are expected to resume soon.
DeepSeek’s chatbot downloads fell 72% in Q2 to 22.6 million
ByteDance’s Doubao surpassed DeepSeek in downloads and MAUs
General-purpose chatbots are losing ground to specialised AI apps
Source: SCMP
