DeepSeek.AI is the brainchild of a Chinese startup founded in May 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, a prominent figure in both the hedge fund and AI industries. The company launched its first product, DeepSeek Coder in late 2023. By May 2024, DeepSeek-V2 entered the market with a pricing strategy that shook up the Chinese AI sector, prompting competitors to slash their prices.
Today, DeepSeek’s flagship models are DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. Both models deliver impressive performance benchmarks while using fewer resources compared to their rivals. DeepSeek-V3 is designed as a general-purpose model, while DeepSeek-R1 specializes in reasoning tasks.
Experts note that the company’s rapid development of these models is due to an innovative training process that mimics human learning. The models improve through trial and error, receiving feedback to refine their performance. Additionally, they employ a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, which activates only a small portion of parameters at any given time, reducing computational costs and boosting efficiency.
To start using DeepSeek as a chatbot, visit DeepSeek.com and click on “Start Now.” Creating an account is required, but you can log in using your Google credentials for convenience. Alternatively, you can download the DeepSeek app on iOS or Android to access the chatbot on your smartphone.
While DeepSeek’s language models are highly capable, the platform itself is more streamlined compared to competitors like ChatGPT. In terms of basic functionality, interacting with DeepSeek feels similar to using ChatGPT. You type a prompt, such as “Explain the philosophy of Stoicism,” and receive a response. You can also ask follow-up questions, like “Break it down for a 6-year-old,” to refine the answer. The quality of responses from both chatbots is often comparable.
However, DeepSeek lacks some of the additional features that make ChatGPT stand out. For example, DeepSeek doesn’t support AI-generated images or videos, nor does it offer tools like Canvas or access to specialized GPTs such as “Insta Guru” or “DesignerGPT.” ChatGPT Plus subscribers can choose from multiple language models, while DeepSeek offers just two: DeepSeek-V3 as the default and DeepSeek-R1 for advanced reasoning tasks, accessible by clicking the “DeepThink (R1)” button.
DeepSeek also provides fewer customization options in its settings, making it harder to fine-tune responses. In essence, DeepSeek is a more simplified version of ChatGPT, concentrating on the core features without bloating the interface.
One of the most exciting applications of AI chatbots is their ability to perform conversational web searches. Both DeepSeek and ChatGPT offer this feature, allowing users to search the web using natural language prompts.
To use DeepSeek’s search feature, simply tap or click the “Search” button and enter your query. For example, you could ask, “What are the best restaurants in my city?” After receiving the initial results, you can ask follow-up questions like, “Which one would you recommend for a family dinner?” DeepSeek will provide a recommendation and explain its reasoning, creating a conversational search experience.
Both platforms allow users to view the sources of their recommendations. However, ChatGPT organizes its sources more effectively, displaying them in a sidebar for easy access. DeepSeek’s approach is more straightforward, presenting search results in a simpler format.
DeepSeek allows users to upload images, but only for text extraction. In contrast, ChatGPT’s multimodal capabilities enable it to analyze images and answer questions about their content. This difference highlights ChatGPT’s broader range of functionalities, while DeepSeek remains focused on text-based tasks.
DeepSeek-R1 is a powerful reasoning model designed to tackle complex tasks, such as solving math problems or addressing questions that require deeper analysis. It performs on par with models like ChatGPT-o1 but presents its reasoning in a more user-friendly way. While responses may take longer due to the complexity of the tasks, the model breaks down its thought process, making it easier to follow.
To activate DeepSeek-R1, simply tap or click the “DeepThink (R1)” button located next to the search bar on the prompt interface. Once selected, the button will be highlighted. When you ask a question, you’ll notice the response time is slower than usual. This is because the model engages in an internal “conversation” to work through the problem before delivering the final answer. This feature allows users to see the step-by-step reasoning behind the response, adding transparency to the process.
If you’re considering moving from ChatGPT to DeepSeek, there are a few things to keep in mind. DeepSeek doesn’t support image analysis, image generation, or specialized tools like Canvas, which are some of ChatGPT’s standout features. However, if your primary needs include asking questions, generating code, or extracting text from images, DeepSeek offers a capable and free alternative.
One occasional drawback is the “high demand” message that can cause queries to fail. Despite this, DeepSeek’s biggest advantage is its cost—it’s completely free to use on both mobile and web platforms. For users looking for a no-cost AI solution, DeepSeek is a compelling option.
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DeepSeek.AI stands out in the crowded AI space for several reasons:
DeepSeek.AI is quickly making a name for itself by offering an open-source, affordable, and high-performing alternative to established AI platforms. Whether you’re a developer, researcher, or content creator, DeepSeek provides a versatile and accessible AI experience.
