The world was shaken last week when DeepSeek hit the market, disrupting the US stock market and challenging what we thought we knew about AI model development. Capable of answering queries much like its predecessor, ChatGPT, DeepSeek’s release generated significant buzz because:
It was trained on about USD 6 million, compared to OpenAI’s GPT-4, which cost nearly USD 100 million.
It used only one-tenth of the computing power required for Meta’s model.
Despite US sanctions restricting chip exports to China, DeepSeek successfully developed, trained, and released its own AI chatbot.
After just seven days, DeepSeek’s chatbot became the most downloaded app on the iOS App Store.
As you can see, DeepSeek’s impact was well-earned. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what DeepSeek can do, its impact since launch, how it compares to other AI chatbots, and what it means for the future of artificial intelligence worldwide.
Source: Statista
What Can Do DeepSeek Do?
Like other AI chatbots, DeepSeek can assist with everyday tasks, hold human-like conversations, search the internet, and tackle complex problems. While its full potential is still being explored, here’s what DeepSeek is currently used for:
Coding help: Developers can get debugging assistance, help with writing code, or explanations for complex topics.
Content writing: DeepSeek can generate high-quality content, edit text, or suggest improvements.
Data analysis: It can analyze large datasets and extract key insights.
DeepSeek responds in a natural, human-like manner, which is one of the most common critiques of other language models.
ChatGPT vs. DeepSeek
If these features sound familiar, it’s because they are—what sets DeepSeek apart from models like ChatGPT is the following.
Model architecture
DeepSeek and ChatGPT use two different approaches to training AI language models:
DeepSeek’s Mixture-of-Experts approach, which uses only the most relevant information to answer queries instead of drawing on all its parameters, is more efficient than other measures.
ChatGPT uses the traditional transformer model, which uses all its knowledge for all tasks.
Both of these architectures are accepted and popular within the fields; it comes down to one question: which do you prefer? Efficiency or consistency?
Strengths
Each model’s architecture plays to its strengths. ChatGPT, drawing on all its knowledge for each query, delivers thorough, consistent, and contextual responses. DeepSeek, focusing only on the specific problem, excels at technical accuracy—achieving 90% accuracy in math, for example.
Accessibility
A major trend in AI has been increasing accessibility. DeepSeek’s chatbot is open-source, meaning it’s free for everyone and can be modified by the community. ChatGPT, however, follows a freemium model, offering basic tools for free but requiring a paid subscription for advanced features.
Customization
DeepSeek allows for greater customization, though it requires advanced technical knowledge. ChatGPT, by contrast, prioritizes user-friendly features, making it accessible to all users, regardless of technical expertise.
Source: Towards AI
Skills
The key comparison between DeepSeek and ChatGPT lies in their ability to provide accurate and helpful responses. Here’s how they compare in key AI applications:
Writing: Both models assist with writing, but their approaches differ. ChatGPT’s broad-context responses are engaging, conversational, and effective for explaining topics colloquially. DeepSeek, however, excels at technical writing, where precision is essential.
Coding: ChatGPT is ideal for those who want a learning experience with detailed explanations. DeepSeek, on the other hand, is better for users who need quick, direct solutions without delays.
Creativity: Model style heavily influences output. ChatGPT’s broad knowledge base generates a diverse array of suggestions, while DeepSeek’s direct approach offers fewer but more well-developed ideas.
Efficiency: DeepSeek made headlines with its cost- and energy-efficient development process, along with its open-source model. ChatGPT, by contrast, is costly to operate and restricts access through a subscription model.
The Impact of DeepSeek’s Release
DeepSeek’s entry into the global market has sparked both excitement and concern. As an open-source AI tool, it democratizes AI innovation, giving startups and individuals access to cutting-edge technology without licensing fees. This marks a shift from AI’s past monopoly under large firms and could drive advancements in AI, science, medicine, and business.
However, this shift comes with risks. Proprietary AI tools allow companies to monitor and restrict misuse, misinformation, and fraud. In contrast, unrestricted AI access increases the risk of misinformation and cyberattacks.
The previously raised concerns with the ethics of AI are still very present. Intellectual property, national security, misuse, and privacy are still very real matters that must be addressed before the widespread adoption of DeepSeek–or any tool–takes place.
The future of artificial intelligence
While DeepSeek is in the spotlight, the bigger question is how its release will shape future AI models. Will the next chatbot follow the open-source approach, or will new restrictions emerge to regulate AI in line with privacy and intellectual property laws? Governments, businesses, and individuals must watch closely to see what’s next—and what it means for the future.
DeepSeek’s arrival is already changing the AI landscape, pushing accessibility forward while raising new questions about control, security, and innovation. Its open-source approach challenges established models, making cutting-edge AI available to more people than ever before. What happens next will depend on how businesses, regulators, and developers respond, but one thing is certain—AI isn’t slowing down.
About the Author: Juliette Carreiro is a skilled content creator with over five years of experience in SEO, content ideation, and digital marketing strategy. She has spent more than two years at Ironhack, where she developed in-depth articles on topics ranging from career growth in tech to the future impact of AI. With expertise across tech, hospitality, and education industries, Juliette has helped brands like Ironhack engage their audiences with impactful storytelling and data-driven insights.
