AI technology is evolving rapidly, and with every new advancement, there’s always the question—will the new tech replace the old? On January 27, 2025, DeepSeek became the most-downloaded free app on the iOS App Store in the USA, surpassing ChatGPT.

This raises some big questions: Is DeepSeek better than ChatGPT? Will DeepSeek take over ChatGPT? These are the concerns many people have as they explore how DeepSeek compares to existing AI models and its potential impact on the industry.

What is DeepSeek?

DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company that develops open source AI models, particularly large language models (LLMs). These models are trained on vast amounts of data to generate human-like responses. One of DeepSeek’s standout models is DeepSeek-R1, which competes with other major AI models like GPT-4.

If you’re new to the term LLM, here’s a simple explanation: It’s a type of machine learning model that is trained on large datasets of text and can generate or predict human-like text.

DeepSeek is unique because it is trained on both Chinese and English datasets, making it a powerful multilingual AI tool.

How Can You Try DeepSeek?

DeepSeek introduced its first free chatbot app powered by the DeepSeek-R1 model, on January 10, 2025. It’s currently available for anyone to try out, and since it’s free, it’s gaining massive popularity quickly.

What Makes DeepSeek Unique?

DeepSeek has several features that set it apart from other AI models:

Multilingual Training

• Unlike ChatGPT, which is primarily trained in English, DeepSeek has strong Chinese and English language support.
• This makes it particularly useful for Chinese users and businesses.

Open-Source AI Model

• Unlike OpenAI’s ChatGPT, DeepSeek is open source.
• This means developers and researchers can access, modify, and improve its code.

It’s Free (For Now)

• Unlike OpenAI and other AI providers, DeepSeek currently offers free access.
• This makes it an attractive option for users who don’t want to pay for AI services.

DeepSeek-Coder: AI for Programmers

DeepSeek has also developed DeepSeek-Coder, an AI model specifically designed for coding. Here’s what makes it special:

• Supports 80+ programming languages, including Python, Java, C++, and .NET.
• Pretrained on 2 trillion tokens, making it highly efficient in code generation.
• Claims to outperform GPT-4 and Llama in coding tasks.

If you’re a developer, this could be a game-changer.

DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: Key Differences

1. Purpose and Focus

ChatGPT is designed primarily for conversations and general AI tasks, while DeepSeek is aiming for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—a more advanced form of AI that can adapt to different tasks over time.

2. Language Support

ChatGPT supports multiple languages but is primarily English-focused, while DeepSeek has stronger Chinese language capabilities, making it better suited for Chinese-speaking users.

3. Ecosystem and Popularity

ChatGPT has a well-established global presence, trusted by businesses and individuals worldwide, while DeepSeek is rapidly growing but is still new to the market.

4. Open Source AI vs. Closed Source AI

DeepSeek is open source, allowing anyone to view, modify, and improve its models, while ChatGPT is closed source, meaning its code and algorithms are not publicly available.

Will DeepSeek Overtake ChatGPT?

It’s too early to say for sure, but DeepSeek has some advantages that make it a strong competitor. It is better for Chinese users as it is specifically designed with Chinese language and culture in mind. Being an open-source AI model, developers can access and improve it freely. Additionally, DeepSeek focuses on AGI, aiming to build AI that can adapt and learn beyond task-specific intelligence. However, ChatGPT still has major strengths, including global recognition and trust, as most professionals and businesses already use it. ChatGPT also benefits from a strong ecosystem, with integrations with Microsoft, APIs, and support for plugins. Furthermore, it offers wider language support, making it widely used across the world in many languages. At this point, DeepSeek is a strong competitor but not yet a replacement for ChatGPT.

DeepSeek is an exciting new player in the AI world, offering open source AI models with strong multilingual capabilities. Its focus on Chinese and English, free access, and AI for coding makes it a strong alternative to ChatGPT.

However, ChatGPT still leads in global reach, partnerships, and brand recognition. While DeepSeek has potential, it will take time before it can truly challenge ChatGPT’s dominance.

For now, the AI world is big enough for both. If you’re a developer or someone looking for an open source AI alternative, DeepSeek is worth trying.

So, what do you think? Will DeepSeek take over ChatGPT, or is it just another competitor in the AI race? Let us know in the comments!