DeepSeek Finds Strong Usage Base in Russia, Belarus & Cuba

DeepSeek became one of the most widely used generative AI platforms across large parts of the Global South in 2025, driven by its open-source model and free access, according to a new report by the Microsoft AI Economy Institute.

Microsoft’s data show that DeepSeek adoption remained low in North America and Western Europe but rose sharply in China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Belarus and Africa.

While DeepSeek accounted for 89% of generative AI usage in China, Belarus ranked second at 56%, followed by Cuba (49%) and Russia (43%). 

Across much of Africa, DeepSeek usage was estimated to be two to four times higher than in other regions, with several countries falling in the 11-25% market-share range. 

Most Western economies recorded DeepSeek usage of 5% or lower, or insufficient data to register meaningful adoption. 

“DeepSeek’s free service eliminated the cost barriers (requiring credit cards or paid upgrades) associated with Western models,” the report read. “In addition, Chinese technology companies, including DeepSeek and infrastructure partners like Huawei, actively promoted and deployed the platform in African markets through partnerships, outreach and integration with telecom services.”

“This dynamic also highlights how open‑source AI can function as a geopolitical instrument, extending Chinese influence in areas where Western platforms cannot easily operate,” the report added. 

Throughout 2025, DeepSeek released incremental updates to its AI models. The company is set to release a next-generation model soon. 

According to Reuters, which cited a report from The Information, DeepSeek is preparing to launch a next-generation AI model, the DeepSeek v4, focused on coding capabilities as early as February. 

Internal tests reviewed by the publication suggest the new model could outperform rival systems from OpenAI and Anthropic on certain programming tasks.

The report added that DeepSeek’s upcoming model has shown strength in handling long and complex coding prompts, a feature aimed at professional developers and enterprise users.

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