DeepSeek releases beta version of V4 models as AI price war heats up

Artificial intelligenceCompany touts more capable offerings and says it will implement peak-hour pricing planDeepSeek’s pricing plans for its AI models are far cheaper than those of U.S. rivals. © Getty ImagesCISSY ZHOUJuly 31, 2026 18:08 JSTHONG KONG -- DeepSeek, China's artificial intelligence darling that rattled Silicon Valley last year, made the official beta version of its latest V4 Flash model publicly available on Friday, a move set to intensify a global price war in cutting-edge AI models.