What Is Deepseek? Discover the New AI in Town
If you haven’t heard of DeepSeek yet, you’re in for a treat. Earlier this month, the open-source AI platform dropped its R1 model, and let’s just say, the buzz has been impossible to ignore. This AI powerhouse is making waves, holding its own against major players like OpenAI, Meta, and Google—but here’s the kicker: it’s doing all that at a fraction of the cost.
When DeepSeek launched, it sent shockwaves through the tech world. On the very same day, Nvidia—one of the biggest chipmakers—saw its stock plummet by 18%, losing about $590 billion in market value. Clearly, DeepSeek’s entry into the AI scene has made a serious impact.
What’s even more impressive? While OpenAI reportedly spends tens of millions of dollars training its models, DeepSeek claims to have achieved similar results for just over $5.5 million. That’s raised some serious questions about how much money is really needed for chips and AI infrastructure. According to DeepSeek’s success, AI models could be run on fewer, less advanced Nvidia chips at a fraction of the cost—possibly even outperforming the competition.
DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: The Battle of AI Giants
Let’s break down how DeepSeek stacks up against ChatGPT. If you’re considering giving both AIs a try, here’s what you need to know.
Subscription
DeepSeek is completely free to use, whereas ChatGPT offers both free and paid versions. However, ChatGPT’s free plan comes with restrictions, like limited uploads and usage.
Availability
Right now, DeepSeek is facing high demand and some slowdowns due to “large-scale malicious attacks” and sheer volume. Signing up on their website might take a little longer than expected. ChatGPT, on the other hand, has a smoother sign-up process, and you can try it out right away without an account.
Quality of Responses
Both AIs generate text that’s easy to spot as AI-written, but DeepSeek has a slight edge when it comes to handling more technical tasks. For everyday questions, the responses from both are pretty similar, although ChatGPT tends to be more concise.
Speed
When it comes to speed, ChatGPT takes the lead. For example, a simple prompt was answered in 5 seconds with ChatGPT’s free plan, whereas DeepSeek took about 18 seconds to “think” before responding.
Version Comparison
DeepSeek’s current model is DeepSeek-V3, while ChatGPT is running GPT-4o, benefiting from a larger training dataset. So, for now, ChatGPT holds the upper hand in terms of overall performance and refinement.
Rate Limiting
With a free DeepSeek account, you can use it as much as you like without worrying about rate limits. ChatGPT’s free version, however, imposes limits, requiring users to wait or upgrade for higher usage.
Which AI Is Better?
When it comes to answering basic questions or tackling everyday tasks, DeepSeek and ChatGPT are pretty much neck and neck. However, DeepSeek seems to shine when it comes to more technical tasks like logical reasoning, coding, and complex math. For those looking for detailed, expert-level responses, DeepSeek is quickly becoming a favorite.
But don’t count ChatGPT out. If you’re after a more versatile tool that handles a wide range of tasks, including generating images and voice interaction, ChatGPT’s got the edge. With a premium plan available at $20 a month, it offers more features and flexibility.
It’s still early days, but if you need a free, expert-level AI that excels at detailed work, DeepSeek might be your best bet. If you want an all-around AI with some extra features, ChatGPT still leads the pack.
