What is DeepSeek? The Chinese AI Challenging ChatGPT (2025)

DeepSeek rocketed to the 6th most searched term globally in 2025. This Chinese AI company is challenging Silicon Valley's dominance. Here's what you need to know.

What is DeepSeek?

DeepSeek is a Chinese artificial intelligence company that develops large language models (LLMs). They've gained attention for:

• Creating powerful AI models rivaling Western competitors
• Open-sourcing their models (free to use and modify)
• Achieving impressive performance at lower costs
• Being developed outside the US/Western AI ecosystem

DeepSeek Models

DeepSeek-V2

• 236 billion parameters
• Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture
• Significantly more efficient than comparable models

DeepSeek Coder

• Specialized for programming
• Strong performance on coding benchmarks
• Popular among developers

DeepSeek Chat

• Conversational AI assistant
• Available for free online
• Supports Chinese and English

Why DeepSeek Matters

1. Challenges US AI Dominance

Until recently, leading AI models came from US companies. DeepSeek shows China can compete at the frontier.

2. Open Source Approach

Unlike OpenAI's closed models, DeepSeek releases model weights publicly:

• Anyone can use them free
• Researchers can study how they work
• Developers can build on them

3. Efficiency Breakthrough

DeepSeek achieved competitive performance while using fewer computing resources and less training data.

How to Try DeepSeek

Web Interface

1. Visit chat.deepseek.com
2. Create an account
3. Start chatting

API Access

Developers can access DeepSeek through their API with competitive pricing.

DeepSeek vs ChatGPT

Aspect	DeepSeek	ChatGPT
Company	DeepSeek (China)	OpenAI (US)
Open Source	Yes	No
Free Tier	Yes	Yes
Best Language	Chinese/English	English
Coding	Excellent	Excellent

What DeepSeek Does Well

1. Coding tasks — Strong programming capabilities
2. Chinese language — Superior Chinese understanding
3. Cost efficiency — Competitive API pricing
4. Open source — Can be self-hosted

DeepSeek Limitations

1. Less polished UI — Web interface not as refined
2. Smaller ecosystem — Fewer integrations
3. Content restrictions — Chinese content policies apply
4. Newer — Less proven track record

Privacy Considerations

When using DeepSeek:

• Data stored in China, subject to Chinese law
• For sensitive information, consider alternatives or run locally

Should You Use DeepSeek?

Try DeepSeek if you:

• Want to explore alternatives to ChatGPT
• Work primarily in Chinese
• Are interested in open-source AI
• Do coding work

Stick with ChatGPT if you:

• Need extensive plugins and integrations
• Have privacy concerns about Chinese services
• Need the best English language performance

The Bottom Line

DeepSeek is a legitimate competitor in the AI space. Their open-source approach and technical achievements make them worth watching. Try it yourself — it's free.

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