Qianfan, Baidu launch DeepSeek to speed up finance data analysis 40pc

Ayra Wang

Hong Kong Qianfan Technology has successfully integrated and deployed mainland artificial intelligence model DeepSeek in collaboration with tech giant Baidu.

The DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-V3 models are now available on the Baidu AI Cloud Qianfan Model Builder, allowing users to train and implement AI models, it was announced yesterday.

The platform features an "ultra-low-price" plan, charging 2 yuan (HK$2.13) for every one million tokens input and 8 yuan for each million tokens output for DeepSeek-R1.

For DeepSeek-V3, the costs are set at 0.8 yuan per million tokens input and 1.6 yuan for output.

Also, a limited-time two-week free service is available until Monday.

Qianfan Technology said this initiative aims to assist Hong Kong enterprises in their digital transformation by providing a cost-effective and efficient AI model.

Jonas Lin, chief technology officer of Qianfan Technology, said the model can achieve 92 percent accuracy in customer intent recognition while reducing computational costs to 60 percent of those of comparable models.

"The model enhances the response speed of financial data analysis by 40 percent, making it particularly suitable for Hong Kong's fast-paced, cross-border trade and real-time settlement ecosystems," Lin added.

The model's incremental fine-tuning mechanism allows businesses to continuously optimize private datasets while adhering to the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance.

Director Rachel Chan said Qianfan Technology will assist local enterprises in migrating their current AI applications from different frameworks, such as OpenAI, to DeepSeek, significantly reducing operating costs while maintaining quality.

After migration, companies can expect to cut inference costs by over 30 percent and improve efficiency in Cantonese-English hybrid contexts by 20 percent.

Industry experts predict that the coming year will usher in a "golden era" for the proliferation of AI-native applications as enterprises worldwide prepare to leverage AI for operational excellence with the growing traction of DeepSeek.

"The collaboration between Qianfan and Baidu AI Cloud not only offers Hong Kong enterprises a new path for development but also enhances the global competitiveness of China's independently innovated AI technologies," the company said.

DeepSeek, a low-cost AI model developed by a Chinese tech start-up in Hangzhou, has already attracted 125 million users within a week of its launch on January 20.

The AI developer has also established two private firms in Hong Kong this month.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com