DeepSeek AI: The Rising AI Tool You Should Know About

DeepSeek AI has emerged as one of the most discussed artificial intelligence tools in recent months, capturing attention across tech communities worldwide.

I’ve been exploring DeepSeek AI extensively, testing its capabilities against other leading models, and I’m genuinely impressed by what this newcomer brings to the table.

The sudden rise of DeepSeek AI, a Chinese startup that’s making waves in the artificial intelligence landscape, deserves your attention whether you’re an AI enthusiast or just someone looking for powerful tools.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain what DeepSeek AI is for beginners, offer practical advice on how to use it effectively, explore some compelling use cases, and demonstrate different ways to access DeepSeek both online and locally on your device.

My mission is to help you navigate the sometimes overwhelming world of artificial intelligence, and DeepSeek AI represents an important development that could change how we interact with AI tools moving forward.

If you’re interested in AI marketing and content creation, understanding DeepSeek’s capabilities could give you a significant advantage in your work or personal projects.

We strongly recommend that you check out our guide on how to take advantage of AI in today’s passive income economy.

What Is DeepSeek AI?

Understanding the Basics

DeepSeek AI is a free, open-source large language model (LLM) owned and operated by a Chinese AI company with backing from a Chinese hedge fund.

In simple terms, you can think of DeepSeek as a free alternative or competitor to popular AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, and Meta’s Llama – but with some noteworthy differences that have captured the attention of users worldwide.

The platform has gained tremendous popularity recently, and you might be wondering what makes DeepSeek stand out in an increasingly crowded field of AI language models.

A significant part of DeepSeek’s popularity stems from its R1 update, announced on January 20th, which introduced an advanced reasoning model that competes directly with premium offerings from other companies.

This R1 model has demonstrated impressive performance across various benchmarks, including mathematics, coding, and other complex reasoning tasks that typically challenge AI systems.

What’s particularly notable is that according to published benchmarks, DeepSeek’s R1 model performs at levels comparable to or even exceeding OpenAI’s GPT-4o model across several categories.

The key difference? DeepSeek offers its advanced model completely free, while OpenAI restricts its most capable models to premium subscribers paying $20 monthly for ChatGPT Plus or $200 monthly for ChatGPT Pro.

Even as a ChatGPT Plus subscriber myself, I’ve noticed that access to the most advanced models like GPT-4o is somewhat limited unless you upgrade to the significantly more expensive Pro tier.

DeepSeek AI vs. Competitors

Benchmarks and Performance

When comparing DeepSeek’s R1 model against OpenAI’s GPT-4o, the results are genuinely impressive, especially considering the price difference.

Is DeepSeek a high-quality model available for free? Absolutely. The fact that it’s open-source and performs comparably to premium models from major AI companies is remarkable by any standard.

However, I should note that claiming any AI is definitively “better” than another is somewhat subjective, as performance varies significantly based on specific use cases and the prompts provided.

My testing suggests that while DeepSeek R1 is certainly impressive, it’s not necessarily dramatically superior to other top models – but the fact that it achieves similar results without a paywall is what makes it truly disruptive.

Beyond the free access, DeepSeek also offers significantly more affordable API pricing compared to competitors, which is particularly important for developers and businesses building AI applications.

For context, DeepSeek R1’s API pricing is approximately 14 cents per million tokens input and 28 cents per million tokens output, which represents a fraction of OpenAI’s costs.

By comparison, OpenAI charges $15 per million input tokens and $60 per million output tokens for GPT-4o, with even their less expensive models like GPT-4o Mini costing substantially more than DeepSeek’s offering.

For developers working with AI technologies, this price difference can translate to thousands or even millions of dollars in savings depending on the scale of implementation.

The Industry Impact

DeepSeek’s emergence has arguably exposed some complacency within the US-based AI industry, challenging assumptions about market dominance and competitive barriers.

This disruption comes after some industry leaders had previously suggested that competing with established AI companies would be “hopeless” – a perspective that now appears premature.

In response to DeepSeek’s growing popularity, even OpenAI’s CEO acknowledged the quality of DeepSeek’s R1 model, calling it “impressive particularly around what they’re able to deliver for the price.”

This recognition, coupled with a promise to “deliver much better models,” suggests that established players are feeling the competitive pressure from DeepSeek’s entrance to the market.

For users like us, this increased competition is ultimately beneficial, as it will likely accelerate innovation and potentially lead to more affordable access to advanced AI capabilities across the industry.

Latest DeepSeek AI Developments

Expanding Beyond Text Generation

DeepSeek continues to evolve rapidly, recently announcing another open-source AI model called Janus Pro 7B, which expands their capabilities into multimodal AI with image generation features.

According to published benchmarks, this new model competes favorably with established image generation systems like OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 and Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion across various evaluation metrics.

This expansion into image generation signals that DeepSeek is positioning itself as a comprehensive AI provider rather than focusing solely on text-based interactions.

The rapid pace of DeepSeek’s development suggests we can expect continued innovation and new capabilities in the coming months as they challenge established players across multiple AI domains.

For users interested in creative applications of AI, these developments make DeepSeek an increasingly versatile platform worth exploring beyond its initial text generation strengths.

How to Use DeepSeek AI

Web Browser Interface

The simplest way to access DeepSeek AI is through their official website at DeepSeek.com, where you can create an account and begin using their services immediately.

After clicking “Start now” on the homepage, you’ll need to register for an account – I recommend using an email address that isn’t connected to your personal information, perhaps creating a new Gmail account specifically for this purpose.

Once logged in, you’ll see the main interface with DeepSeek R1 model highlighted, along with a search functionality similar to what you might find on other AI platforms.

The left sidebar displays your conversation history, allowing you to filter and organize your interactions, while settings are accessible through your profile icon in the same area.

DeepSeek also offers vision capabilities, allowing you to upload files similar to what’s possible with other leading AI assistants, though the overall customization options are somewhat limited compared to competitors.

Mobile Application

DeepSeek is also available as a mobile application for both iOS and Android devices, accessible through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store respectively.

Personally, I find desktop interfaces more effective for serious work with large language models, as they typically provide a better experience for complex prompts and reviewing detailed responses.

However, the mobile app can be convenient for quick queries or when you need to access AI assistance while away from your computer.

If you’re already comfortable using mobile AI applications like the ChatGPT app, you might find DeepSeek’s mobile interface equally useful for your needs.

Third-Party Platforms

Another way to access DeepSeek’s capabilities is through third-party platforms like Groq.com, which provides access to various open-source models including a version of DeepSeek’s R1.

Groq offers a free tier that allows you to experiment with DeepSeek alongside other models from companies like Google, Meta, and Mistral, making it a convenient way to compare different AI systems.

The interface is straightforward – simply toggle to the DeepSeek R1 Distill option and begin interacting with the model without needing to create a separate account on DeepSeek’s platform.

This approach can be particularly useful if you’re interested in quickly comparing DeepSeek’s performance against other models without managing multiple accounts and interfaces.

Local Installation

For users concerned about privacy or needing offline access, it’s possible to run DeepSeek models locally on your device using applications like LM Studio.

After downloading LM Studio for your operating system, you can search for DeepSeek models in the Discover section and filter by compatibility with your hardware specifications.

Keep in mind that the most powerful models require significant computational resources, so you may need to select smaller variants like the DeepSeek R1 Distill 7B model depending on your device capabilities.

Local installation offers two key advantages: you don’t need internet access to use the model, and you typically encounter fewer content restrictions compared to web-based versions.

The trade-off is that running these models locally can be resource-intensive and may cause performance issues on less powerful devices, as I experienced when testing this approach.

Limitations of DeepSeek AI

Privacy Considerations

While DeepSeek offers impressive capabilities, potential users should be aware of important privacy considerations before committing to the platform.

According to DeepSeek’s privacy policy, they collect user inputs, uploaded files, feedback, chat history, and other content provided to their models and services – similar to practices at other AI companies.

However, what distinguishes DeepSeek is that they explicitly state that personal information may be stored on servers located in the People’s Republic of China.

This storage location may raise concerns for users subject to certain regulatory frameworks or those working with sensitive information, particularly given differences in data protection laws across jurisdictions.

I recommend carefully reviewing their privacy policy and considering these factors, especially if you plan to use DeepSeek for professional or sensitive applications.

Limited Customization

Unlike some competitors, DeepSeek currently lacks features for adding custom instructions or uploading knowledge bases to improve outputs for specialized tasks.

For comparison, platforms like ChatGPT and Claude allow users to set custom instructions that guide how the AI responds, specify preferred tones or writing styles, and even identify topics to avoid.

These competitors also allow uploading documents to create custom knowledge bases that enhance the AI’s responses for domain-specific queries, even on free plans in some cases.

The absence of these customization features may limit DeepSeek’s utility for users with specialized needs or those looking to optimize the AI’s responses for particular use cases.

As DeepSeek continues to develop, addressing these limitations could significantly enhance its appeal to professional users and specialized applications.

Memory Limitations

Another significant limitation is DeepSeek’s lack of conversational memory between sessions, meaning it cannot recall details from previous conversations.

If you ask DeepSeek to reference something you mentioned in an earlier chat, it will typically respond by explaining that it doesn’t have the ability to retain memory across different interactions.

By contrast, platforms like ChatGPT offer memory features that allow the AI to remember key details from past conversations, providing more contextual and personalized responses over time.

These memory capabilities can be particularly valuable for ongoing projects or complex tasks that span multiple sessions, making their absence in DeepSeek a noteworthy limitation.

For users who rely heavily on AI assistants for ongoing work, this lack of persistent memory may present a significant workflow disadvantage compared to other platforms.

Access Restrictions

Recently, DeepSeek has implemented temporary limitations on new registrations, citing “large-scale malicious attacks” on their services as the reason for these restrictions.

These limitations have made it difficult for new users to create accounts and begin using DeepSeek, though the specifics of how these restrictions are being applied remain somewhat unclear.

Some speculation exists about whether competitive pressures might be related to these attacks, though no concrete evidence supports such theories at this time.

Additionally, users should be cautious about potential scams, as DeepSeek has warned about fraudulent accounts impersonating their official presence on social media platforms.

These security concerns and access restrictions represent growing pains that are not uncommon for rapidly popularizing services, but they do present practical barriers to adoption.

Conclusion

DeepSeek AI represents a significant development in the democratization of advanced artificial intelligence, offering capabilities comparable to premium models but without the associated costs.

Its emergence has already influenced the competitive landscape, potentially accelerating innovation and putting pressure on established players to reconsider their pricing and access models.

While DeepSeek offers impressive performance and value, potential users should carefully consider the privacy implications, customization limitations, and lack of conversational memory when evaluating whether it meets their specific needs.

For casual users, students, or those exploring AI capabilities without wanting to commit to subscription fees, DeepSeek provides an excellent entry point to advanced AI assistance.

Professional users with specific requirements around data privacy, customization, or persistent memory may find that the limitations currently outweigh the cost benefits, depending on their use case.

As DeepSeek continues to develop and potentially address these limitations, it may become an increasingly compelling alternative to established AI platforms for a wider range of applications.

Whether DeepSeek maintains its current momentum depends not only on continued technical innovation but also on how effectively it addresses the practical concerns and limitations identified by early adopters.

The competition sparked by DeepSeek’s entrance to the market ultimately benefits all AI users, as it challenges the industry to deliver better performance at more accessible price points.

Getting Started with DeepSeek AI

Recommendations for New Users

If you’re interested in exploring DeepSeek AI, I recommend starting with the web interface for the simplest experience while being mindful of privacy considerations.

Create a dedicated email account for registration rather than using your primary personal or work email, and familiarize yourself with the privacy policy before uploading sensitive information.

Experiment with different types of queries to understand DeepSeek’s strengths and limitations in areas like creative writing, programming assistance, or analytical tasks.

Compare results with other AI platforms if possible, as this can help you identify which system performs best for your specific use cases and communication style.

Remember that while DeepSeek offers impressive capabilities for free, it’s still evolving, and some features available on more established platforms may not yet be implemented.

Final Thoughts

The artificial intelligence landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with new entrants like DeepSeek challenging assumptions about market dominance and accessibility of advanced AI capabilities.

As these tools become more powerful and more accessible, they create opportunities for individuals and organizations that previously might have been priced out of using cutting-edge AI technology.

Whether DeepSeek ultimately maintains its current position or is surpassed by future innovations, its impact on democratizing access to advanced AI tools represents an important milestone.

I encourage you to explore DeepSeek and other emerging AI platforms with both enthusiasm and critical awareness, understanding both their capabilities and their limitations.

The most effective approach to these tools involves staying informed about developments, maintaining appropriate privacy precautions, and identifying which systems best meet your specific needs.

We strongly recommend that you check out our guide on how to take advantage of AI in today’s passive income economy.