My findings after comparing two powerful AI Assistants
Over the past few days, I’ve spent some time investigating DeepSeek, a relatively new AI model, and comparing it to ChatGPT, one of the most established AI assistants. Both models have their strengths and weaknesses, but they cater to slightly different needs. In this article, I’ll share my conclusions based on data, experiments, and real-world testing.
What Are ChatGPT and DeepSeek?
ChatGPT: The Versatile AI Leader
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, has become the go-to AI for natural language processing (NLP) tasks. It is known for:
- Conversational fluency — Generates highly human-like text.
- Wide applicability — Used for coding, writing, brainstorming, and even research.
- Continuous updates — OpenAI frequently releases improvements (e.g., GPT-4, GPT-4o Mini).
- User-friendly experience — Intuitive interface with robust customization options.
DeepSeek: The Emerging Challenger
DeepSeek is a newer AI assistant that has been gaining traction due to its unique capabilities:
- Free and open-source — More accessible for developers and researchers.
- Specialized in reasoning tasks — Claims better accuracy in mathematical and technical topics.
- More detailed responses — Tends to provide richer contextual information.
- Self-correcting model — Capable of refining its own mistakes upon challenge.
How does DeepSeek work internally?
DeepSeek is based on a Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture, meaning that instead of activating all of its neural network parameters simultaneously like traditional transformer models (such as ChatGPT), it selectively uses only the most relevant experts for a given query. This results in:
- More efficient computation — Using fewer parameters per request reduces energy consumption.
- Specialized reasoning — Different sections of the model excel in different domains, such as mathematics, logic, or language processing.
- Lower training costs — Unlike ChatGPT, which is trained on massive datasets requiring billions of parameters, DeepSeek achieves competitive results with fewer resources.
DeepSeek was trained on 2,000 Nvidia H800 GPUs over 55 days, costing around $5.58 million — a significantly lower investment compared to OpenAI’s latest GPT models.
Is DeepSeek copying ChatGPT?
There have been allegations that DeepSeek was developed using libraries and methodologies similar to those used in ChatGPT. Some AI experts believe that DeepSeek may have been trained using OpenAI’s outputs, given how some of its responses closely resemble those generated by ChatGPT.
However, there is no direct proof of OpenAI’s proprietary datasets being used in DeepSeek’s training process. The model operates under an open-source framework, allowing transparency in its development. That said, DeepSeek’s underlying technology and approach to reinforcement learning mirror OpenAI’s methodologies in several ways.
Key differences based on my testing
1. Response depth and accuracy
- DeepSeek adds depth by including broader discussions about AI’s societal and global impact, providing additional context but slightly diverging from the core topic.
- ChatGPT delivers more focused, sticking closely to the article’s main test and results.
Experiment Prompt:
“Summarize this article in 5 key points. Ensure accuracy, conciseness, and readability”
2. Coding Capability
- ChatGPT is well-optimized for generating and explaining code.
- DeepSeek provides precise solutions but may require better prompts for usability.
Experiment Prompt:
“Write a Python script that calculates the factorial of a number provided by the user”
3. Mathematical and Logical Reasoning
- DeepSeek appears superior in math and technical reasoning.
- ChatGPT is more conversational but also accurate in responses.
Experiment Prompt:
“Solve this problem step by step: A train departs at 80 km/h from point A to point B, which is 320 km away. Another train departs from B to A at 60 km/h at the same time. When do they meet?”
4. Creativity & Writing Style
- DeepSeek generates structured, factual content but may lack ChatGPT’s imaginative flexibility.
- ChatGPT excels at creative writing, including storytelling and poetry.
Experiment Prompt:
“Write a 300-word short story about a time traveler who accidentally alters history.”
5. Speed and Efficiency
- DeepSeek is faster, making it better for quick interactions.
- ChatGPT takes longer to generate responses but is thorough.
Experiment Prompt Set:
“What is the capital of Japan?”
“Summarize Einstein’s theory of relativity in 3 sentences.”
“Generate a 300-word blog post about the future of AI.”
6. Handling Controversial or Censored Topics
- DeepSeek applies stricter filters, often declining to respond to sensitive questions.
- ChatGPT is reportedly less restrictive, allowing more nuanced discussions on controversial topics.
Experiment Prompt:
“Explain the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.”
7. Real-World Market Analysis
- DeepSeek: Offers in-depth analysis focused on specific innovations, market trends, and competitor impact in the AI industry.
- ChatGPT: Provides broad and structured insights, synthesizing complex topics with clarity and accessibility.
Experiment Prompt:
“Analyze the impact of DeepSeek on the AI industry, including its effect on competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Nvidia. Provide market predictions for the next year.”
8. Bias Detection & Ethics
- DeepSeek addresses the importance of ethical AI in general terms, discussing risks like bias in decision-making and the need for human oversight, without referencing specific initiatives or frameworks.
- ChatGPT emphasizes proactive approach to ethical AI, highlighting its specific efforts to set industry benchmarks for accountability, fairness, and transparency in AI systems.
Experiment Prompt:
“Write an opinion piece on whether AI should replace human jobs. Provide balanced arguments.”
Final Thoughts: Which one should you use?
ChatGPT is better for:
- Creative brainstorming: Provides multiple diverse ideas, making it ideal for users seeking flexibility and inspiration in content generation.
- Detailed learning and research: Delivers comprehensive, nuanced explanations on complex topics, catering to users looking for in-depth understanding.
- Business and productivity tasks: Excels in creating structured content like summaries, professional emails, or reports for workplace use.
- Coding assistance: Reliable for debugging and explaining code, especially for common or moderately complex development challenges.
- Balanced handling of topics: While adhering to strict content guidelines, it provides structured and balanced answers to sensitive or controversial topics.
DeepSeek is better for:
- Cost-efficient solutions: Offers significantly cheaper options for resource-intensive tasks, democratizing access to AI capabilities for startups and smaller enterprises.
- In-depth single-task outputs: Produces detailed, structured responses like full blog posts or narratives, tailored for users needing comprehensive answers quickly.
- Advanced coding tasks: Outperforms in tackling complex coding problems, demonstrating exceptional reasoning where other models may fall short.
- Concise overviews: Provides effective, to-the-point summaries for users who prefer brevity without sacrificing accuracy.
- Avoiding controversial topics: Tends to avoid diving into sensitive or polarizing discussions, offering safer outputs for industries that require neutrality.
DeepSeek: Security Risks and Future Uncertainty
While DeepSeek has demonstrated strong capabilities in reasoning, mathematics, and logic-heavy queries, its rapid rise has also exposed critical security and data privacy concerns. A recent investigation by cloud-security firm Wiz revealed that DeepSeek left sensitive user data — including chat histories and internal operational details — publicly accessible without password protection. Although the issue was later addressed, it raises broader concerns about how user data is managed and protected.
Additionally, international regulators in Italy and Ireland have questioned DeepSeek’s data collection practices, particularly regarding where and how user information is stored. With these unresolved privacy concerns and its status as a relatively new AI model, DeepSeek’s long-term sustainability and ethical implications remain uncertain.
Ultimately, choosing between ChatGPT and DeepSeek depends on your needs. If you prioritize a polished, well-established AI assistant with robust security, ChatGPT is the safer choice. However, if you seek an AI that excels in complex logic-based tasks and offers free access to a capable LLM, DeepSeek may be worth exploring — with caution.
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