What is Deepseek AI? Everything You Need to Know About DeepSeek R1 Model
DeepSeek AI is a Chinese startup founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng in Hangzhou, quickly gaining attention for its affordable and innovative AI models, like DeepSeek-V3 and R1. These models use advanced technologies like Mixture-of-Experts (MOE) to deliver high performance while keeping costs low, with development reported to be around $5.5 million – far less than U.S. competitors. DeepSeek’s rapid rise to the top of the Apple App Store reflects its growing popularity, and its efficiency and cost-effectiveness are shaking up the global AI market, posing a challenge to industry giants.
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What is DeepSeek AI?
DeepSeek AI is an innovative technology created by a Chinese company in Hangzhou, marking China’s growing role in the AI field. Founded by Liang Wenfeng in late 2023, the company introduced its DeepSeek R1 model, which has quickly gained attention for its impressive performance and cost efficiency. Remarkably, the model was developed in just two months with a budget of less than $6 million, a stark contrast to the hundreds of millions or even billions spent by U.S. competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic. DeepSeek’s rapid progress and affordability have made it a notable player in the global AI landscape.
What are the different versions of the DeepSeek model?
DeepSeek has released multiple model versions across different series:
- DeepSeek LLM series with versions like 67B.
- DeepSeek-V2 includes DeepSeek-V2, DeepSeek-V2-Lite, and DeepSeek-V2.5.
- DeepSeek-V3, the latest model.
- DeepSeek Coder with sizes from 1B to 33B parameters, including versions like 1B, 5.7B, 6.7B, and 33B.
- DeepSeek Coder V2.
- DeepSeek-VL and DeepSeek-VL2 have variants (Tiny, Small, Regular).
- DeepSeek-R1, including DeepSeek-R1-Zero and distilled versions like DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen and DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Llama in multiple sizes.
This sums up to at least 18 distinct model versions. These models are known for their advanced capabilities, transparency through open-sourcing, user-friendly design, affordability, and performance, making DeepSeek one of the most popular AI applications.
What is the DeepSeek R1 Model?
The R1 model is at the core of DeepSeek’s technology, known for being both efficient and cost-effective while delivering high accuracy. Despite its relatively low development cost, it competes strongly with other advanced AI models. Its main focus is improving reasoning capabilities, something that makes it stand out from many other AI models. DeepSeek R1 is built upon the company’s previous work with the DeepSeek-V3 model, to tackle more complex reasoning tasks.
The impact of R1’s success has been felt beyond just the tech world—it even caused a nearly 17% drop in Nvidia’s stock price, leading to a record loss in market value. This decline played a role in a 3.1% dip in the Nasdaq Composite Index, highlighting the growing influence of DeepSeek’s affordable AI technology.
How to Use the Deepseek R1 Model in the Deepseek Mobile App and Web App?
To use the Deepseek R1 model in the Deepseek app or web app, follow these simple steps. Please note that some features or options might vary depending on updates or platform differences.
Using the DeepThink (R1) Model in the Mobile or Desktop App
- Install the App
Download the Deepseek app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). If you’re using a desktop, install the appropriate version of the app. - Log In or Sign Up
Create a new account or log in with your existing credentials. While some features (like the R1 model) may require a subscription, you can still enjoy limited free access to chats. - Access the Model Interface
Open the app and navigate to the section where you can interact with models—look for buttons or options like “New Chat”. - Select the DeepThink (R1)
To use the DeepSeek R1 model, select DeepThink (R1) from the options on the left side of the Search section. If you don’t select DeepThink (R1), the app will default to using the Deepseek V3 model. - Interact with R1
Once you’ve selected DeepThink (R1), type your question or prompt in the input field, and hit submit.
Download DeepSeek App for Android
Download DeepSeek App for iOS
Using DeepThink (R1) on the Web App
- Visit the Deepseek Website
Go to the official Deepseek web app (e.g., https://deepseek.com). - Log In or Sign Up
Log in with your existing account, or create a new one. Some features, like access to the R1 model, might require a paid plan but use can use it for limited free chat with this Model. - Navigate to the Model Interface
Once you’re logged in, look for sections such as “Start Now”. This is where you’ll interact with the models. - Choose DeepThink (R1)
To use the DeepSeek R1 model, select DeepThink (R1) from the options on the left side of the Search section. If you don’t select DeepThink (R1), the app will default to using the Deepseek V3 model. - Input Your Query
Once you’ve selected DeepThink (R1), type your prompt or question in the text box. Some platforms may offer extra formatting options, such as tools for code or math. - Review and Export
Once you get a response, you can copy it, download the results, or share them directly through built-in options. Many web apps also allow you to save your chat history.
Note: By default, the Deepseek app or web app uses the Deepseek V3 model for any standard chat responses. You can switch to DeepThink (R1) for more specific or advanced interactions.
What Does State-of-the-Art Mean in AI?
DeepSeek’s R1 model is considered a state-of-the-art AI model. A “state-of-the-art” model refers to the most advanced technology available in a specific field. These models use cutting-edge algorithms, vast datasets, and optimized architectures to deliver superior performance. State-of-the-art AI models, like DeepSeek R1, excel in tasks such as language understanding, content generation, and decision-making. Despite its lower development cost, DeepSeek R1 has proven to be highly efficient and accurate, earning its place among top AI systems.
DeepSeek vs ChatGPT
Many people wonder how DeepSeek compares to ChatGPT. Here are some key differences:
| Aspect | DeepSeek | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Development Cost | $6 million | Hundreds of millions of dollars |
| Performance | – Strong in content creation, coding – Includes web search | – Versatile (content, coding, etc.) – Includes web search |
| Censorship | – Restrictive on sensitive political topics – Avoids topics like Tiananmen Square | – Less restrictive but with content moderation – Allows broader discussion |
| Privacy | – Data stored in China – Potential government access concerns | – U.S. based servers – Subject to U.S. privacy laws |
| User Interface | – Likely simpler, focused on specific tasks | – User-friendly, with plugin and API support |
| Customization | – Less customization, more specialized | – Highly customizable, extensive API support |
| Learning & Adaptability | – Updates needed for new query types | – Continuous improvement through feedback and updates |
| Ethical & Social | – Reflects Chinese regulatory environment | – Balances free speech with ethical AI use |
| Market Fit | – Cost-effective for specific applications | – Wide appeal for diverse, versatile AI needs |
| Scalability | – Good for niche applications – Limited by initial training scope | – Designed for broad scalability and diverse tasks |
| Features | ||
| – Coding | – Excellent, especially for Python – Supports many languages | – Good, with extensive code generation – Broad language support |
| – Image Generation | – Not supported | – Supported through DALL-E integration |
| – Image Analysis | – Can analyze images for content and context | – Can analyze images for content and context |
| – Document Analysis | – Can analyze documents like PDFs for content and context | – Can interact with PDFs and other document formats through plugins or APIs |
| – Natural Language Understanding | – Strong, especially in technical contexts | – Highly advanced, with nuanced context understanding |
| – Multilingual Support | – Good multilingual capabilities | – Excellent, supports a wide array of languages |
| – Real-time Information | – Provides real-time web search capabilities | – Provides real-time web search capabilities |
| – Memory & Context | – Limited to current session | – Can maintain long-term memory of conversation across sessions |
| – API & Integration | – Free tier available, premium features require a subscription | – Robust API, good for integration with other services |
| – Cost of Use | – Limited to the current session | – Free tier available, premium features require a subscription |
Conclusion
DeepSeek AI offers a great balance of cutting-edge technology and affordability, excelling in a variety of tasks. Its performance makes it a strong contender in the AI space, even though there are some concerns, like censorship and privacy issues due to its data being stored in China. With 5-6 million users globally, it’s clear that DeepSeek has gained a lot of attention and shows real promise. If you’re interested in innovative AI without the high cost, DeepSeek is definitely worth checking out.
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