DeepSeek: A Quick Introduction

DeepSeek started in December 2023, founded by Liang Wenfeng, a Chinese quantitative finance team with strong technical abilities. Although their models gained some attention, it was just one of the many LLMs out there competing for research dollars. On Jan 1st, 2025, they released a ground-breaking new LLM named DeekSeek R1. This model took the AI world by storm due to it's unique tech, enabling a 10x reduction in LLM training cost while actually being as good as or better than the leading LLM, ChatGPT. But we didn't want to just take their word for it. We wanted to test it for ourselves using the Japanese language.

How We Tested Them

We spent about a week putting both platforms through their paces. Here’s a snapshot of what we looked at:

• Code Generation: How well do they help write code?
• Information Retrieval: Can they find and analyze information accurately?
• Content Creation: How detailed and engaging is their text?
• Response Quality: Are their answers helpful and clear?
• Stability: How reliable are they during use?

Two of our experienced testers ran through multiple scenarios, making sure we covered a broad range of real-world tasks.

Content Creation

In our tests (15 questions in total, including 10 niche queries related to our sites and 5 general ones), DeepSeek either matched or slightly surpassed ChatGPT in generating quality content. The questions we asked came from real-life chatbot conversions that we pulled from our database. Some conversations included topics seeking customer support, such as:

• Are you open on Sundays
• Do you see cold patients?
• Is there parking?

What We Found

Performance & Accuracy

• DeepSeek:

  • Took a bit longer to respond, but often delivered more detailed and accurate answers.
  • Shined in code generation with thorough and precise outputs.
  • Produced content with rich detail—though sometimes it was a bit more wordy.

• ChatGPT:

  • Responded quickly with concise, easy-to-digest answers.
  • Offered consistent performance and reliable service.
  • Its straightforward approach makes it great for quick interactions.

System Stability

One downside for DeepSeek was its occasional instability, although these are attributed to DeepSeek's servers than the LLM itself):

• We encountered a few access errors and service interruptions.
• Its processing speed was slower compared to ChatGPT.
• Availability wasn’t always consistent during our tests.

Cost Perks

A big plus for DeepSeek is its lower cost compared to ChatGPT. For businesses looking to keep an eye on budget while still leveraging AI, this is a noteworthy advantage.

Our Thoughts and Recommendations

Here’s what we’re thinking based on our tests:

• DeepSeek’s Strengths: It’s really promising—especially if you need detailed content or code help.
• Stability Considerations: Given some hiccups in reliability, it might work best as a complement to another tool rather than as your only solution.
• Budget-Friendly Option: Its lower cost is a major draw if you’re looking to optimize your spending on AI.

What’s Next?

We’re not stopping here! Our next round of testing will include:

• More variations of ChatGPT models (O1 and O3).
• DeepSeek’s Japanese language models.
• Extended stability checks over longer periods.

Looking Ahead

DeepSeek is paving the way for a new wave of AI innovation. While it’s not perfect just yet, especially when it comes to stability, its detailed output and competitive pricing make it an exciting option. For now, a hybrid approach—using DeepSeek for in-depth tasks and ChatGPT for quick, reliable answers—might be the best of both worlds.

We’re excited to see how DeepSeek evolves and will keep you updated with our future findings. Stay tuned, and happy exploring in the world of AI!