DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: What Is DeepSeek and Should You Use It?
By
Samantha Cox
•
Aug 7, 2025
DeepSeek is an AI language model created by High-Flyer, a quantitative hedge fund, for technical tasks and multilingual support. This article explores DeepSeek’s key features, its development, and compares it with ChatGPT to help you decide if DeepSeek meets your needs.
Key Takeaways
DeepSeek is a cost-effective AI language model focusing on technical accuracy and multilingual capabilities, thanks to its development under the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer.
In comparison with ChatGPT, DeepSeek excels in technical tasks and data analysis, while ChatGPT is better suited for creative content generation and user-friendly interactions.
Businesses need to choose between DeepSeek’s free, technical focus and ChatGPT’s polished outputs, depending on their specific needs for AI in tasks like coding, content creation, and data analysis.
What is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek is a powerful AI language model that has quickly gained recognition for its robust capabilities in various technical tasks. As a family of AI models, an AI chatbot, and the company behind these innovations, DeepSeek AI has carved out a niche for itself in the competitive AI landscape.
DeepSeek’s development is deeply intertwined with its parent company, High-Flyer, a quantitative hedge fund. This connection has provided DeepSeek with the necessary resources to develop and refine its models.
DeepSeek’s journey, from its founding to its model releases and standout capabilities, is a fascinating one. Its rapid progress and key strengths are what make DeepSeek a standout in the AI space.
Founding and Early Years
DeepSeek was established in May 2023. Liang Wenfeng, a co-founder of High-Flyer, is also a founder of DeepSeek. Wenfeng’s vision was to create a powerful AI that could rival established models while being cost-effective and accessible.
However, the path to success was not without hurdles. International sanctions forced DeepSeek to use less powerful graphics cards, posing significant challenges during the development systems process. Despite these obstacles, DeepSeek persevered and continued to innovate, proving that overcoming such challenges is a big deal.
Model Releases
The initial model from DeepSeek was launched in November 2023, marking the beginning of its journey in AI development. This was just the first step in a series of significant advancements.
In April 2024, DeepSeek introduced three DeepSeek-Math models (Base, Instruct, and RL), each designed to tackle specific tasks and enhance the overall capabilities of the platform through reinforcement learning. These models laid the groundwork for more advanced iterations.
The releases of DeepSeek-V3-0324 on 24 March 2025 and DeepSeek-R1 in January 2025 further solidified DeepSeek’s position in the AI market. Utilizing a mixture of experts (MoE) layers, DeepSeek managed to reduce training expenses significantly while maintaining high performance.
Core Capabilities
DeepSeek offers solid multilingual capabilities, allowing users to engage in multiple languages effectively. This makes it a versatile tool for businesses operating in diverse linguistic environments. The attention layer in DeepSeek models plays a crucial role by processing input through query, key, and value matrices, which enhances its reasoning skills.
Both AI models, including DeepSeek, are expected to continue evolving, focusing on enhancing their capabilities and addressing user demands. This continuous improvement ensures that users will always have access to state-of-the-art technology.
DeepSeek vs. ChatGPT: Key Differences
When it comes to AI language models, both DeepSeek and ChatGPT have carved out unique positions in the market. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI development firm, has emerged as a challenger to established U.S. companies by offering low-cost, open-source large language models. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is widely recognized for its general conversational abilities and creative writing prowess.
DeepSeek focuses on technical depth and accuracy, making it a preferred choice for in-depth data analysis and technical tasks. Conversely, ChatGPT excels in content creation, customer service, and coding assistance, providing a more rounded experience for general users. With these distinct focuses, the choice between DeepSeek and ChatGPT often depends on the specific needs of the user.
Privacy and censorship are also key points of differentiation. While ChatGPT is known for transparent data handling, DeepSeek’s user data could potentially be accessed by the Chinese government, raising privacy concerns. DeepSeek’s censorship covers topics that are deemed objectionable by the Chinese government. This reflects the broader restrictions on information within the country.
User Experience
When it comes to user experience, ChatGPT stands out with its polished and user-friendly interface. Features like voice input and conversation memory enhance the overall interaction, making it intuitive even for users with minimal technical know-how.
In contrast, DeepSeek’s interface is considered more basic, which can be a disadvantage for those seeking a seamless user experience. However, its accessibility for users with technical resources and the ability to download and run models independently make it a valuable tool for developers and technical users with limited access.
Performance in Creative Tasks
In creative tasks, ChatGPT excels with its superior capabilities in conversational applications and creative content creation. Its well-rounded abilities make it better suited for engaging in creative writing and informal conversation compared to DeepSeek.
However, DeepSeek’s unique approach to organizing content resonates well with user preferences, sometimes emphasizing significant details that may be ignored by ChatGPT. Despite its slightly less impactful writing style, DeepSeek offers a more emotionally satisfying and comprehensible approach to creative tasks, allowing users to write effectively and respond to prompt requirements.
Accuracy and Data Quality
ChatGPT is generally regarded as more accurate overall compared to DeepSeek, especially in casual interactions and creative content generation. Its ability to produce natural-sounding phrases in conversational translations further enhances its reliability.
On the other hand, DeepSeek excels in technical tasks and logical reasoning, making it a preferred choice for developers and engineers. While ChatGPT is superior in flexible reasoning and ambiguous problems, DeepSeek’s attention to nuance results in slightly polished outcomes in translation tasks.
Real-World Testing
To truly understand the capabilities of DeepSeek and ChatGPT, real-world testing was conducted using identical questions to ensure consistency in results. These tests evaluated a range of tasks, including content creation, reasoning, and technical problem-solving, providing clear answers while also reflecting the thought process behind the research evaluations.
The comparison utilized ChatGPT Plus and DeepSeek, with the overall verdict indicating that ChatGPT comes out on top in this comparison. However, each AI demonstrated strengths in specific areas, highlighting their unique capabilities.
Content Creation
In content creation tasks, ChatGPT performed better, showcasing polished, creative, and brand-aware outputs. This made it the preferred choice for tasks that require a high level of creativity and engagement.
DeepSeek, while organized and structured, sometimes lacked the creativity found in ChatGPT’s outputs. However, its ability to align content with user approaches and incorporate important points demonstrates its strength in written, structured human-like content creation that can vary based on user needs, making it a hit or miss.
In a test summarizing Einstein’s paper, ChatGPT emerged as the winner due to its superior content analysis and creation capabilities, providing a clear answer.
Coding Tasks
ChatGPT performed exceptionally well in coding tasks, providing clean, fully functional code for tasks like building a password generator without any errors. This reliability makes it an excellent tool for developers seeking quick and accurate coding solutions, including custom GPTs.
In contrast, DeepSeek displayed a tendency for correctness but often required multiple iterations to correct its outputs, demonstrating less reliability in comparison. Overall, ChatGPT was declared the winner in coding task performance, showcasing a clear edge over DeepSeek.
Multilingual Capabilities
DeepSeek provides robust multilingual support, enabling seamless interaction across numerous languages and dialects. In a recent test, DeepSeek successfully translated a marketing email from English to Spanish, preserving nuances and industry terminology.
ChatGPT demonstrated its translation abilities by accurately translating technical documents from English to Mandarin, highlighting its versatility in handling varied subject matters. This makes ChatGPT a strong contender for tasks requiring high-quality multilingual communication.
Data Analysis
DeepSeek is primarily used for in-depth research data analysis, recognized for its strong performance in detailed tasks and preferred for data accuracy. In data analysis tasks, DeepSeek provided deeper insights and contextual analysis, flagging key points and explaining their significance.
ChatGPT’s analysis in data tasks may lack the nuanced insights that DeepSeek can provide in specialized contexts. In the realm of data analysis capabilities, DeepSeek emerged as the clear leader over ChatGPT.
Problem Solving
DeepSeek’s powerful models feature:
Advanced reasoning capabilities that allow for more complex decision-making processes.
A structured, methodical approach to solving logic puzzles, verifying clues with checkmarks.
Strong problem-solving abilities demonstrated by 90% accuracy in math problems.
However, DeepSeek’s reasoning is less flexible than ChatGPT’s, as it does not highlight alternate solutions explicitly. One of the limitations observed was its lack of explanations for the components of formulas in calculations. Despite this, DeepSeek is effective in solving classic logic puzzles and complex problems.
Feature Comparison Table
To make the comparison easy, here’s a table highlighting the key features of DeepSeek and ChatGPT side by side:
Feature | DeepSeek | ChatGPT |
Model Architecture | Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) | Dense transformer architecture |
Offline Access | Yes | No |
Multimodal Interactions | No | Yes (text and images) |
Cost | Free and open-source | Freemium model starting at $20 |
Training Cost | $5.5 million | Over $100 million |
Integration | Custom, self-hosted environment | Gmail, desktop apps for Windows and Mac |
Privacy | Data could be accessed by Chinese government | Transparent data handling |
Censorship | Yes (topics objectionable to Chinese government) | No |
Which AI Should Businesses Use?
Selecting the right AI chatbots involves considering specific business needs and use cases. DeepSeek emphasizes a cost-effective, specialized framework for technical tasks, while ChatGPT aims for broad, user-friendly applications. The choice between DeepSeek and ChatGPT depends on the specific use cases and budget considerations.
For businesses seeking free access to coding tasks, DeepSeek is the better option due to its accessibility and lack of financial constraints. However, for production-ready coding tasks, ChatGPT stands out with its reliable and polished outputs.
Ultimately, the decision boils down to your business’s specific needs. If you require an AI for in-depth technical tasks and data analysis, DeepSeek is a strong contender. On the other hand, for general content creation, customer service, and coding assistance, ChatGPT is the more versatile choice.
Cost and Accessibility
DeepSeek is completely free and open-source, making it accessible for various users without financial constraints. This model ensures broad user access without any restrictions on features, making it an attractive free option for those on a tight budget. Additionally, users can explore the free version to understand its capabilities.
In contrast, ChatGPT offers a free tier with significant limitations, while its full features require a monthly subscription. Users might choose DeepSeek over ChatGPT due to its greater accessibility and cheaper cost.
Integration and Technical Support
ChatGPT allows for Gmail integration, enabling it to draft email responses from new Gmail emails. It is also available on desktop apps for both Windows and Mac, enhancing its usability across different platforms in response to user needs.
DeepSeek does not provide native integrations. This feature is only available in a custom, self-hosted environment. While ChatGPT has better integration capabilities, DeepSeek’s strong focus on technical tasks and multilingual capabilities still make it a valuable tool for developers.
Future Prospects
DeepSeek’s emergence as a cost-effective AI competitor could expand the overall market by attracting users who previously found AI too expensive. This could lead to a more competitive landscape where both cost and advanced features are key considerations.
The future dynamics of the AI industry may see competition between DeepSeek and Western firms focusing on both cost and functionality. DeepSeek is only a couple of months behind leading firms like OpenAI in terms of functionality, suggesting it could challenge incumbents effectively.
About Fonzi
Fonzi’s mission is to bridge the gap between companies and elite AI engineers by organizing Match Day events that facilitate direct connections. These events enable companies to connect with highly qualified AI engineers through structured hiring events known as Match Days.
Fonzi supports both early-stage startups and large enterprises, accommodating needs from the first artificial intelligence hire to the 10,000th. By delivering high-signal, structured evaluations with built-in fraud detection and bias auditing, Fonzi ensures a transparent and efficient hiring process.
Unique Approach
Fonzi employs a rigorous evaluation framework that enhances the detection of fraudulent applications while also conducting audits to minimize bias. This structured approach ensures fair assessments of candidates and enhances recruitment security for both candidates and employers.
Unlike traditional job boards or black-box artificial intelligence tools, Fonzi delivers high-signal, structured evaluations, making it a trusted partner in the hiring process.
Candidate Experience
Fonzi allows candidates to showcase their expertise freely, connecting them with meaningful job opportunities. This ensures that the candidate experience is preserved and elevated, leading to engaged and well-matched talent.
By providing a supportive environment through a Technical Talent Concierge, Fonzi enhances the candidate experience, ensuring clear communication and consistent feedback throughout the hiring journey.
Hiring Efficiency
Fonzi makes hiring fast, consistent, and scalable, with most hires happening within three weeks. High-signal evaluations that include built-in fraud detection and bias auditing enhance transparency in the hiring process.
By allowing flexible interview schedules and providing clear communication, Fonzi ensures a positive candidate experience and improves interaction between candidates and recruiters.
Summary
In the rapidly evolving world of AI, both DeepSeek and ChatGPT offer powerful tools for different needs. DeepSeek excels in technical tasks and data analysis, making it a valuable tool for developers and engineers. On the other hand, ChatGPT shines in content creation, customer service, and coding assistance, providing a well-rounded experience.
Choosing the right AI depends on your specific business needs. Whether you prioritize cost-effectiveness and technical depth or user-friendly applications and creative capabilities, both DeepSeek and ChatGPT have something to offer. Embrace the potential of these AI tools and unlock new possibilities for your business.
