Have you ever ever discovered your self speaking to an AI prefer it’s your therapist? Simply me?
I’ll admit, I’ve used ChatGPT for extra than simply answering questions. Generally, it’s my go-to for venting about life’s little frustrations (however let’s hold that between us).
After I want research-backed solutions, I flip to Perplexity. It has a knack for pulling collectively strong info from throughout the online.
So once I heard about DeepSeek, I used to be naturally intrigued. Might this be the following huge factor in AI?
When you haven’t heard of DeepSeek but, right here’s a enjoyable reality: On January 27, 2025, its app skyrocketed to change into essentially the most downloaded free app on Apple’s App Retailer within the U.S. That form of meteoric rise doesn’t occur day by day. DeepSeek is making waves, and I needed to see if it lived as much as the hype.
DeepSeek is an AI firm that develops open-source massive language fashions (LLMs), positioning itself as a cheap and high-performance various to extra established rivals like ChatGPT. Its fashions, together with DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1, are designed for duties like technical query answering, code technology, and problem-solving.
Nonetheless, as with every AI, it’s not with out its drawbacks: occasional technical hiccups, stricter content material filters, and potential information privateness considerations.
On this DeepSeek overview, I am going to talk about the professionals and cons, what it’s, who it is best for, and its key options. Then, I am going to present you ways I used DeepSeek’s core functionalities (DeepThink-R1, net search, and doc evaluation). I am going to end the article by evaluating DeepSeek with my high three alternate options (ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Chatsonic).
So, is DeepSeek the AI assistant you’ve been ready for? Or does it fall wanting the competitors? Let’s dive in and discover every part it has to supply.
Verdict
DeepSeek stands out with its decrease API pricing, sturdy efficiency in technical duties, and open-source flexibility. This makes it a compelling selection for builders in search of customizable AI options. Nonetheless, its vulnerability to immediate assaults and privateness considerations relating to consumer information utilization poses important dangers it’s best to rigorously contemplate.
Execs and Cons
- DeepSeek provides decrease API pricing than rivals
- Fashions like R1 and V3 carry out effectively in duties like answering technical questions, producing code, and fixing issues
- Many DeepSeek fashions are open-source or partially open-source, permitting builders to customise them
- DeepSeek makes use of strategies like Combination of Specialists (MoE) and multi-token prediction for quicker processing and lowered sources
- DeepSeek supplies tailor-made options, akin to DeepSeek Coder for programming and fashions for math problem-solving
- The fashions fail to dam immediate assaults selling fraud, misinformation, and safety dangers
- Privateness considerations contain utilizing consumer information to enhance fashions, elevating privateness considerations
What’s DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is a Chinese language synthetic intelligence firm based in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng in Hangzhou, China. It develops open-source massive language fashions (LLMs) and has gained important consideration for its AI chatbot that rivals established rivals like ChatGPT.
The corporate emerged from Liang Wenfeng’s hedge fund, Excessive-Flyer. It was based with a transparent mission: to develop highly effective language fashions that compete with paid alternate options whereas staying accessible to the broader AI neighborhood.
Its AI fashions (notably DeepSeek-V3) can carry out duties akin to answering questions, fixing logic issues, and writing pc applications at a degree similar to main AI techniques. DeepSeek’s founder acquired a big stockpile of Nvidia A100 chips earlier than U.S. export restrictions, giving the corporate a aggressive edge.
On January 27, 2025, DeepSeek’s app grew to become the most downloaded free app on Apple’s App Retailer in america, inflicting important disruption within the tech inventory market. DeepSeek has additionally made its AI chatbot open-source, permitting free entry to its code to be used, modification, and viewing.
Overview of Obtainable Fashions
DeepSeek has developed a number of predominant fashions, together with DeepSeek V3 and DeepSeek R1.
DeepSeek V3 is their large-scale mannequin with 671 billion parameters, able to dealing with a variety of duties together with complicated coding and normal reasoning.
In the meantime, DeepSeek R1 is constructed on high of V3 and is particularly designed for superior reasoning. It exhibits considerably higher efficiency in areas like mathematical reasoning and code technology.
Moreover, DeepSeek has launched smaller fashions just like the DeepSeek Janus-Professional-7B (a multimodal mannequin with 7 billion parameters), that’s able to understanding and producing photographs. The DeepSeek Coder and DeepSeek-Coder-V2 are specialised fashions for coding duties, with the V2 model having 236 billion parameters.
Technological Options & Architectural Improvements
DeepSeek V3 (the corporate’s newest mannequin) incorporates a number of superior architectural improvements:
- Combination of Specialists (MoE) Structure: DeepSeek V3 makes use of an MoE framework that prompts particular parameters based mostly on enter, boosting effectivity with out shedding efficiency.
- Multi-Head Latent Consideration (MLA): This improves pace, reduces reminiscence use, and handles longer sequences higher.
- DeepSeekMoE: This method balances workload throughout specialists, bettering efficiency.
- Load Balancing Technique: DeepSeek V3 makes use of a brand new load balancing technique, bettering efficiency with out trade-offs in knowledgeable activation.
- Multi-Token Prediction (MTP): DeepSeek V3 predicts a number of tokens without delay to spice up effectivity.
- Reminiscence Optimization: The mannequin trains with out tensor parallelism, making GPU coaching extra environment friendly and cost-effective.
- Prolonged Context Size: DeepSeek V3 can deal with as much as 128,000 tokens, making it higher at processing lengthy paperwork.
These improvements have allowed DeepSeek to attain aggressive efficiency with considerably decrease computational sources and prices in comparison with different main AI fashions.
Who’s DeepSeek Greatest For?
DeepSeek is essentially the most helpful for the next sorts of folks:
- Advertising businesses can use DeepSeek to investigate shopper conduct in area of interest markets, craft focused campaigns, and personalize messaging whereas staying forward of {industry} developments.
- Small companies can use DeepSeek to entry skilled insights at a decrease value. This successfully replaces costly consultancy companies for a aggressive edge.
- Trade professionals can use DeepSeek to get tailor-made insights in specialised fields like healthcare, finance, authorized companies, and scientific analysis.
- Builders and researchers can use DeepSeek as an open-source mannequin to change and customise AI for his or her initiatives.
- Price-conscious customers can use DeepSeek’s decrease API pricing to save lots of on AI growth and enterprise operations.
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Corporations needing focused AI can use DeepSeek to construct exact, industry-specific functions.
DeepSeek Key Options
Listed below are DeepSeek’s key options you have to be conscious of.
Mannequin Variety
DeepSeek has developed a complete suite of huge language fashions that showcase exceptional versatility. Their flagship mannequin (DeepSeek-V3) boasts a powerful 671 billion parameters and may deal with context home windows as much as 128,000 tokens, making it exceptionally highly effective for complicated reasoning and communication duties.
Listed below are DeepSeek’s fashions:
- DeepSeek Coder (November 2023)
- DeepSeek LLM (December 2023)
- DeepSeek-V2 (Could 2024)
- DeepSeek-Coder-V2 (July 2024)
- DeepSeek-V3 (December 2024)
- DeepSeek-R1 (January 2025)
- Janus-Professional-7B (January 2025)
These fashions are designed for numerous duties, together with coding, general-purpose use, and superior reasoning.
Architectural Innovation
DeepSeek has pioneered a complicated Combination of Specialists (MoE) structure that dramatically improves computational effectivity. They use exact knowledgeable segmentation and shared isolation to enhance specialization and scale back redundancy.
Complementing this, DeepSeek developed DualPipe, a classy communication accelerator for environment friendly pipeline parallelism. DualPipe overlaps ahead and backward computation, reduces latency, and optimizes information motion throughout GPUs by making a digital Knowledge Processing Unit to effectively trade information between all GPUs.
This mix of MoE structure and DualPipe permits DeepSeek to optimize information stream between GPUs for quicker and extra reasonably priced mannequin coaching. For instance, their DeepSeek V3 mannequin (with 671 billion parameters) was skilled on 2,048 Nvidia H800 GPUs in about two months for 10X larger effectivity than some {industry} leaders.
Coaching Excellence
DeepSeek’s coaching excels with superior reinforcement studying strategies. They developed a rule-based reward system with two key elements: accuracy rewards and format rewards, which outperform conventional neural reward fashions. This strategy permits their AI to be taught extra nuanced and exact reasoning capabilities.
For instance, their R1 mannequin demonstrated exceptional enhancements in mathematical reasoning, rising move@1 scores on AIME 2024 from 15.6% to 71.0%. The corporate used a coaching course of with reinforcement studying. This methodology enabled the mannequin to make use of a self-verification method as a part of its reasoning course of.
The result’s a coaching strategy that not solely enhances computational studying but additionally creates AI fashions able to extra refined and dependable reasoning throughout complicated duties.
Financial Effectivity
DeepSeek has achieved aggressive AI efficiency with notable value effectivity in comparison with some Western fashions.
Whereas preliminary studies of creating DeepSeek-V3 for simply $6 million have been deceptive, the corporate has demonstrated important financial benefits. The $6 million determine represents solely the ultimate coaching prices, with whole growth bills estimated between $100 million to $1 billion yearly.
Regardless of larger general prices, DeepSeek’s strategy stays economically environment friendly. Their API pricing is considerably decrease than rivals like OpenAI, providing potential value financial savings for builders and companies.
This pricing technique, mixed with its open-source strategy and aggressive mannequin efficiency, positions DeepSeek as a probably disruptive pressure within the international AI know-how panorama.
Specialised Capabilities
The corporate has not simply created generalist fashions but additionally developed specialised options like DeepSeek Coder and Janus-Professional-7B.
DeepSeek Coder is a sequence of programming-focused language fashions skilled on 2 trillion tokens, with 87% code and 13% pure language in English and Chinese language. Obtainable in sizes starting from 1B to 33B parameters, these fashions ship state-of-the-art efficiency on programming benchmarks and assist project-level code completion.
Janus-Professional-7B represents DeepSeek’s breakthrough in understanding and producing photographs. Launched in January 2025, this mannequin achieves 80% accuracy on the GenEval benchmark, surpassing rivals like DALL-E 3 and Secure Diffusion. Constructed on DeepSeek-LLM-7B, Janus-Professional-7B makes use of a 72-million-image dataset.
These focused fashions excel in particular domains akin to programming and picture technology, showcasing DeepSeek’s revolutionary strategy to specialised AI options.
Accessibility Philosophy
Dedicated to democratizing AI know-how, DeepSeek releases lots of its fashions with open-source or partially open-source licenses. This permits researchers, builders, and firms worldwide to entry cutting-edge AI capabilities at considerably lowered prices.
DeepSeek has embraced open-source strategies that foster collaborative innovation, providing fashions like DeepSeek Coder, DeepSeek-V3, and DeepSeek-R1 with accessible licensing. Their pricing technique dramatically lowers entry limitations, with DeepSeek-R1 priced at simply $0.55 per million enter tokens, in comparison with OpenAI’s o1 mannequin at $15 per million tokens.
DeepSeek brings specialists collectively and provides reasonably priced AI instruments, dashing up innovation and increasing international entry. This represents a major step towards democratizing synthetic intelligence, breaking down conventional limitations of value, complexity, and computing energy.
Easy methods to Use DeepSeek
Here is how I used all of DeepSeek’s functionalities to reply my queries and remedy my issues:
- Choose Begin Now
- Create an Account
- Ask DeepSeek a Query
- Use the DeepThink-R1 Mannequin
- Use DeepSeek to Search the Net
- Give DeepSeek a Doc to Analyze
Step 1: Choose Begin Now
I began by going to deepseek.com and hitting “Start Now” totally free entry to DeepSeek-V3.
Step 2: Create an Account
After creating an account, I used to be impressed by how clear the interface was. It seemed quite a bit like ChatGPT!
Taking a better have a look at the message area itself, there have been a few issues I seen that I might do:
- Activate DeepSeek-R1 to resolve reasoning issues
- Search the online
- Add paperwork and pictures
Step 3: Ask DeepSeek a Query
I needed to strive these completely different functionalities and examine them to one another, starting by asking DeepSeek an attention-grabbing query: “What are some unconventional ways to measure time without using clocks or calendars?”
I typed this into the message area (with out turning DeepThink or Search on) and hit ship.
A couple of seconds later, DeepSeek generated a response that adequately answered my query!
Step 4: Use the DeepThink-R1 Mannequin
Subsequent, I needed to strive the DeepThink-R1 mannequin. This mannequin is designed for superior reasoning and problem-solving. It is nice for finishing extra complicated duties, like logic puzzles and mathematical challenges.
I made a decision to check its capabilities by asking it a reasoning drawback and seeing how effectively it might break down and remedy it: “If you had an infinite supply of 3-liter and 5-liter jugs, how would you measure exactly 4 liters of water?”
A couple of seconds later, DeepSeek shared the considering course of behind the way it approached fixing the issue in each conversational tone of voice, which I discovered very insightful.
It additionally offered two strategies for fixing the issue! I used to be impressed.
Step 5: Use DeepSeek to Search the Net
Subsequent, I needed to make use of DeepSeek’s net search performance. I examined this by asking it the next query: “What are the latest breakthroughs in AI-driven medical diagnostics this year?”
A couple of seconds later generated a response to my question.
I despatched the question a few instances and, sadly, DeepSeek failed on account of technical points. Nonetheless, this might simply be on account of excessive demand overwhelming the servers.
Regardless, I appreciated that DeepSeek nonetheless answered the query to one of the best of its potential. Nonetheless, the data it offered was outdated by two years.
Step 6: Give DeepSeek a Doc to Analyze
Final however not least, I needed to present DeepSeek a picture to investigate.
I did this by importing a PDF doc of Zhuangzi’s “Butterfly Dream” and offering the question: “Analyze this excerpt from Zhuangzi’s ‘Butterfly Dream’ and discuss its implications on the nature of reality and self-identity.”
A couple of seconds later, DeepSeek offered me with an in-depth have a look at the important thing themes and philosophical implications of Zhuangzi’s “Butterfly Dream,” which I discovered very insightful!
General, my expertise with DeepSeek was principally constructive. Its performance felt easy and intuitive, particularly when utilizing the DeepThink-R1 mannequin and analyzing paperwork.
Whereas I did encounter just a few technical hiccups, I used to be impressed by how deeply it analyzed issues and offered considerate responses.
High 3 DeepSeek Alternate options
Listed below are one of the best DeepSeek alternate options you will wish to strive.
ChatGPT
The primary DeepSeek various I’d suggest is ChatGPT. I exploit ChatGPT fairly religiously for quite a lot of issues. However what I like most about it’s its conversational potential and the way effectively it handles a variety of queries, from informal chit-chat to extra complicated topics like coding or historical past.
DeepSeek and ChatGPT have quite a bit in widespread, like their potential to course of and generate textual content in a conversational format. Nonetheless, DeepSeek excels in high-level benchmarks for specialised duties like coding and math. It is geared extra towards these requiring pace and precision in fields like math, cryptography, or superior AI mannequin capabilities. DeepSeek has a 90% accuracy fee in math in comparison with ChatGPT’s 83%. Alternatively, ChatGPT is thought for its pleasant nature and talent to interact deeply in additional normal, on a regular basis conversations.
When you need assistance with extra specialised, technical duties, select DeepSeek. For extra of an interactive, participating expertise with the flexibleness to deal with quite a lot of matters, select ChatGPT!
Perplexity
The subsequent DeepSeek various I’d suggest is Perplexity. Apart from ChatGPT, it is one other LLM I am an enormous fan of for doing analysis. It seems like having a analysis assistant who not solely finds info however organizes and refines it based mostly on what I would like.
Whereas DeepSeek focuses on AI reasoning, coding, and problem-solving, Perplexity excels at AI-powered search, summarization, and analysis. Each platforms are sturdy in numerous areas: DeepSeek is nice for logic-heavy duties and technical challenges, whereas Perplexity is best for locating and organizing info.
Perplexity excels at AI-driven search, pulling info from dwell web sources to offer up-to-date outcomes. In the meantime, DeepSeek focuses on superior reasoning and specialised duties utilizing its refined mannequin. These fashions are recurrently up to date however do not carry out real-time net searches.
DeepSeek stands out with its open-source fashions, like DeepSeek-R1 which permits builders to customise AI for particular wants. In the meantime, Perplexity provides a user-friendly analysis device that feels extra like a complicated search engine.
For an AI that helps you remedy complicated issues, generate code, and work on logic-based duties, select DeepSeek. For an AI that enhances analysis, summarizes content material, and supplies up-to-date solutions, Perplexity is a superb selection!
Chatsonic
The ultimate DeepSeek various I’d suggest is Chatsonic. What I like about Chatsonic is the way it simplifies advertising duties with its all-in-one AI workspace and built-in optimization instruments.
Whereas DeepSeek has proven aggressive efficiency in particular areas like mathematical reasoning, Chatsonic stands out for its seamless advertising integrations and content material creation instruments.
On the one hand, DeepSeek is an open-source powerhouse. It excels in logic, math, and coding duties, making it a strong selection for technical customers who want correct problem-solving. The API entry and free mannequin availability additionally present flexibility for builders and researchers.
Alternatively, Chatsonic is constructed for entrepreneurs, writers, and content material strategists. It integrates with Ahrefs, Google Search Console, and WordPress, making real-time information retrieval and marketing campaign administration easy. Not like DeepSeek, which focuses extra on computation however can be utilized for content material creation and evaluation, Chatsonic prioritizes branding, automated workflows, and multi-model AI choice for inventive initiatives.
For a complicated AI mannequin for problem-solving, coding, and analysis, DeepSeek is a superb selection. But when your focus is content material creation, advertising, and automation, select Chatsonic!
DeepSeek Evaluation: The Proper Device For You?
After testing DeepSeek’s functionalities (DeepThink-R1, net search, and doc evaluation), I used to be notably impressed with its potential to resolve reasoning issues and generate considerate, structured responses. Nonetheless, some technical points made the expertise really feel barely inconsistent.
Regardless, DeepSeek confirmed sturdy potential, particularly in dealing with complicated queries with depth and readability. Its intuitive interface and logical reasoning capabilities actually stood out to me. Regardless of the occasional glitches, it stays a promising device for analysis and evaluation!
When you want a robust, cost-efficient AI for coding and technical duties, DeepSeek is a strong selection. However should you’re on the lookout for one of the best DeepSeek alternate options, I would contemplate these choices:
- ChatGPT is greatest for normal AI conversations, content material creation, brainstorming, and coding. It provides a extra pure, interactive expertise with a excessive diploma of reliability.
- Perplexity is greatest for analysis and fact-based responses. Its AI-powered search engine delivers up-to-date, cited info that is nice for educational or enterprise analysis.
- Chatsonic is greatest for AI-powered picture technology, real-time net search, and voice interactions. It is a sturdy choice for digital entrepreneurs, content material creators, and companies in search of an AI with multimedia capabilities.
Thanks for studying my DeepSeek overview! I hope you discovered it useful.
Strive DeepSeek’s core functionalities totally free and see the way you prefer it!
Often Requested Questions
Can DeepSeek be trusted?
DeepSeek’s AI capabilities are spectacular, however there are important privateness and safety considerations on account of its information storage practices in China. There are additionally potential vulnerabilities to misinformation. Whereas the mannequin exhibits promise in areas like math and coding, strategy it with warning given its susceptibility to producing dangerous content material and the shortage of transparency round information dealing with.
How is DeepSeek completely different from ChatGPT?
DeepSeek excels in technical precision, specializing in reasoning-heavy duties like coding, math, and structured problem-solving. In the meantime, ChatGPT provides a extra versatile and conversational expertise suited to inventive writing, brainstorming, and informal discussions. DeepSeek additionally makes use of a self-reinforced studying mannequin with out human supervision, making it more cost effective and environment friendly. It additionally provides options like limitless prompts and the power to run on native machines.
What’s DeepSeek used for?
DeepSeek is an AI growth agency that creates open-source massive language fashions (LLMs) for numerous duties. These LLMs are notably sturdy in formal reasoning, coding, and problem-solving. DeepSeek provides a number of companies together with a net interface, cell utility, and API entry.
Is DeepSeek free?
Sure, DeepSeek provides a totally free tier with full entry to its core performance. Which means anybody can use the DeepSeek-V3 and R1 fashions with out restrictions! Not like many AI companies that restrict free utilization, DeepSeek supplies limitless entry to its chatbot and fashions with out requiring a bank card or imposing day by day question limits.
Who’s the proprietor of DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is owned by Excessive-Flyer, a Chinese language hedge fund. It was based by Liang Wenfeng, a 40-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from Zhejiang College. Liang Wenfeng serves because the CEO of DeepSeek and beforehand co-founded Excessive-Flyer, a quantitative funding administration agency that now manages a reported $8 billion in property
Why is the Nvidia inventory falling on account of DeepSeek?
Nvidia’s inventory plummeted 17% on January 27, 2025, on account of DeepSeek’s announcement of a cheap AI mannequin that achieves related efficiency to Western fashions at considerably decrease value. This growth raised considerations about future demand for Nvidia’s high-performance AI chips, that are core to its enterprise. It additionally sparked fears of elevated competitors within the international synthetic intelligence area.
Is DeepSeek R1 free?
DeepSeek R1 provides each free and paid tiers, with pricing as little as $0.14 per million enter tokens and $0.28 per million output tokens. Whereas not utterly free, DeepSeek R1 supplies a really reasonably priced choice in comparison with different AI fashions, with some platforms providing restricted free utilization or low-cost entry.
