DeepSeek Unveils Interleaved Thinking as Monthly Users Surge 90% in 2026
DeepSeek adds an advanced 'interleaved thinking' feature to its AI chatbot as monthly active users surge 90% to 131.5 million, challenging OpenAI's dominance in deep research.
China's AI dark horse has officially entered the heavyweight division. DeepSeek just added a sophisticated "thinking" brain to its chatbot as its user base exploded by 90% in a single month. According to the South China Morning Post, the Hangzhou-based startup is now directly challenging global leaders with capabilities that mirror OpenAI's most advanced research tools.
The DeepSeek Interleaved Thinking Feature Explained
At the heart of this upgrade is the interleaved thinking mode. Unlike traditional chatbots that process a prompt and generate a single response, this feature allows the model to "think" between every action. It performs multi-step research, verifying the credibility of information on one webpage before deciding whether to consult another document to validate its findings.
This iterative process is the backbone of powerful research tools like OpenAI's Deep Research. In real-world testing, DeepSeek's chatbot automatically triggers this mode when faced with complex queries, allowing users to witness each step of the reasoning process as it unfolds. It's a significant shift from a "black box" output to a transparent analytical workflow.
Explosive Growth: Reaching 131.5 Million Users
The technological leap comes alongside staggering market momentum. In December 2025, DeepSeek's monthly active users (MAU) hit nearly 131.5 million. This surge reflects the growing appetite for advanced AI tools in the Chinese market, where competitors like Moonshot AI's Kimi are also racing to deploy similar "deep research" capabilities.
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