Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is rapidly gaining global attention, overtaking OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most downloaded app in the U.S. So, what exactly is DeepSeek, and why all the attention now?

Artificial intelligence has been evolving at a breakneck pace, and one of the latest names to emerge in the field is DeepSeek. But what exactly is DeepSeek, and why is it suddenly generating so much buzz? In this blog post, we’ll explore what DeepSeek is, how long it’s been around, why it’s gaining attention now, and how it compares to ChatGPT—one of the most well-known AI models in the world.

What is DeepSeek and What Does It Do?

DeepSeek is an advanced AI model designed to understand and generate human-like text, much like other large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. It is free to download and use, with paid options for businesses that need more.

It’s built on cutting-edge machine learning techniques, leveraging massive datasets and sophisticated algorithms to perform tasks like answering questions, generating content, and assisting with problem-solving.

While the exact details of DeepSeek’s architecture and training methods are not fully public, it’s clear that the model is part of the next wave of AI systems aiming to push the boundaries of natural language processing (NLP). DeepSeek is likely designed to be highly efficient, context-aware, and capable of handling complex queries with precision.

How Long Has DeepSeek Been Around?

DeepSeek is a relatively new entrant in the AI space. While ChatGPT and other models like Google’s Bard have been in the spotlight for a couple of years, DeepSeek appears to have emerged more recently, likely in late 2023 or early 2024. Its development is part of the ongoing race among tech companies and research organizations to create more powerful and versatile AI tools.

Why is Everyone Interested in DeepSeek Now?

There are a few key reasons why DeepSeek is capturing attention:

1. Improved Performance: Early adopters and testers have reported that DeepSeek excels in certain areas, such as understanding nuanced queries, providing more accurate responses, and handling complex tasks with greater efficiency. This has sparked curiosity among tech enthusiasts and professionals alike.
2. Specialized Capabilities: Unlike general-purpose models like ChatGPT, DeepSeek may have been fine-tuned for specific industries or use cases, such as healthcare, finance, or creative writing. This specialization makes it particularly appealing to businesses and individuals looking for tailored AI solutions.
3. Competition Drives Interest: The AI landscape is highly competitive, and the emergence of a new player like DeepSeek naturally draws attention. People are eager to see how it stacks up against established models like ChatGPT and whether it offers any unique advantages.
4. Ethical and Safety Features: There’s growing demand for AI systems that prioritize ethical considerations, such as reducing bias, ensuring privacy, and preventing misuse. If DeepSeek has made strides in these areas, it could explain why it’s gaining traction now.
5. Free to Use: The app is free to download and use, though paid options are available for business use.

How is DeepSeek Different from ChatGPT?

While both DeepSeek and ChatGPT are large language models designed to generate human-like text, there are several potential differences that set them apart:

1. Privacy Concerns: DeepSeek is based in China and sends all data to China, including your text, audio, chat and feedback. In comparison, ChatGPT is developed and operated by OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research company based in the United States, with headquarters in San Francsico, CA.
2. Training Data and Focus: ChatGPT is a general-purpose model trained on a broad range of internet text. DeepSeek, on the other hand, might have been trained on more specialized or curated datasets, allowing it to perform better in specific domains.
   However, OpenAI has recently accused DeepSeek of using its proprietary models to train their open-source model, raising concerns over potential intellectual property violations.
3. Efficiency and Speed: Some users have noted that DeepSeek processes queries faster and with lower computational overhead compared to ChatGPT. This could make it more accessible for real-time applications. (Unfortunately for me it didn’t work at all, and I only got server busy errors.)
4. Contextual Understanding: DeepSeek may have improved capabilities when it comes to understanding context over long conversations or complex scenarios. This would make it more effective for tasks like customer support or technical troubleshooting.
5. Customization: DeepSeek might offer more flexibility for users to fine-tune the model for their specific needs, whereas ChatGPT is more of a one-size-fits-all solution.
6. Pricing: The DeepSeek app, which features the R1 model, is available at no cost. For developers and businesses interested in integrating DeepSeek’s capabilities, the company provides API access with competitive pricing.
   For instance, processing one million input tokens with the DeepSeek-R1 model costs approximately $0.55, while output tokens are priced at $2.19 per million. In comparison, OpenAI’s o1 model charges $15 for processing one million input tokens. This pricing structure makes DeepSeek a cost-effective option for both individual users and organizations seeking advanced AI solutions.

My First Try Using DeepSeek

My first attempt to try DeepSeek AI was postponed, as I kept getting the error message “Due to large-scale malicious attacks on DeepSeek’s services, registration may be busy. Please wait and try again. Registered users can log in normally. Thank you for your understanding and support.”

After about an hour, I was able to log-in and create an account without an issue. Once in, I was greeted with an interface that looked strikingly similar to ChatGPT.

I asked it some questions, and the responses were very similar in tone and structure as ChatGPT.

I asked it to create an image representing DeepSeek for this post, and it responded with: “The server is busy. Please try again later.” I tried again later with the same response. My first attempt at using it has been a little frustrating.

So, I asked it, “Why is the server busy?” and got to watching a little icon swirl around for a bit before it once again told me the server was busy.

I kept trying over the course of two hours and never got it to give me an answer for anything. So, I have no idea if it is as great as it’s supposed to be. I’ll have to go back and try again a different time.

What are the Privacy Concerns with DeepSeek?

DeepSeek is a Chinese-developed AI platform, which has raised significant privacy and security concerns due to its data handling practices and potential governmental oversight. Key issues include:

Data Collection and Storage: DeepSeek’s privacy policy states that it collects extensive user data, including text or audio inputs, prompts, uploaded files, feedback, and chat history, and stores this information on servers located in the People’s Republic of China. This has led to apprehensions about the Chinese government’s potential access to user data, given national laws that may require companies to share information with state authorities.

Censorship and Content Control: DeepSeek’s AI model avoids discussing topics deemed sensitive by the Chinese government, such as the Tiananmen Square incident, Taiwan’s political status, and human rights issues in China. The AI may initially generate responses on these topics but subsequently deletes them, replacing them with messages indicating the subject is beyond its current scope. This behavior suggests built-in censorship mechanisms that align with state directives.

Governmental and Institutional Responses: In light of these concerns, various organizations and governments have taken precautionary measures. The U.S. Navy has prohibited its personnel from using DeepSeek’s AI, citing potential security and ethical issues. Similarly, Italy’s Data Protection Agency has sought clarifications from DeepSeek regarding its data collection practices, focusing on the types of personal data collected, their sources, purposes, legal basis, and whether the data is stored in China.

Given these factors, users are advised to exercise caution when using DeepSeek, especially when handling sensitive or personal information.

Next Generation of AI

DeepSeek represents the next generation of AI models, offering exciting possibilities for both general and specialized applications, but approach with caution. While it’s still early days for this newcomer, its potential to outperform existing models like ChatGPT in certain areas has sparked significant interest.

As with any AI tool, the best choice depends on your specific needs. If you’re looking for a general-purpose AI, ChatGPT remains a strong contender. But if you need a more specialized, efficient, or context-aware solution, DeepSeek might be worth exploring. (You might want to wait until it can handle the traffic though, as it has yet to respond to me with anything except “The server is busy.”)

The AI race is far from over, and DeepSeek’s emergence is a reminder of how quickly this field is evolving. Whether it becomes the new gold standard or simply another option in the AI toolkit, one thing is certain: the future of AI is looking more bigger and more competitive than ever.