US companies are increasingly opting for China's DeepSeek AI as a more economical alternative to pricier Silicon Valley competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic. This trend was highlighted by DeepSeek's rise to the top of a "trending software vendors" list on the corporate spending platform Ramp in June 2026. The data indicates that US firms are making direct payments to DeepSeek, suggesting data is being transferred to and from China-hosted servers. While DeepSeek experienced a smaller surge in popularity in January 2025, its current adoption signifies a notable shift as businesses seek cost-effective AI solutions, even if it means utilizing services with servers located in China.