What is DeepSeek AI? Check Key Features and Other Details

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, is disrupting the market with cost-effective, open-source models like DeepSeek-V3. Despite challenges, it’s gaining traction and shaking up AI giants with its innovative approach to performance, cost, and accessibility, while also navigating geopolitical hurdles and market competition.

Jan 29, 2025, 13:35 IST
What is Deepseek AI?
What is Deepseek AI?

In 2023, a new player emerged in the artificial intelligence (AI) arena: DeepSeek. Founded by Liang Wenfeng in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, this Chinese startup has quickly gained prominence, especially with its innovative chatbot that has surpassed established models like ChatGPT in popularity. This article delves into the key features, market impact, and strategic developments surrounding DeepSeek AI.

Key Features of DeepSeek AI

Open-Source Technology

DeepSeek stands out with open-source technology. Its AI models, like the new releases DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1, are made open-source, so their source code can be accessed for free by developers and researchers to share ideas and make improvements within the AI community. Open-source models can create faster breakthroughs through users contributing improvement and adaptations.

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Cost Efficiency

The strategy for DeepSeek development puts focus on cost-effectiveness. The company argues that it built the models at one-tenth the price that the competing giant OpenAI took. While it is reportedly true that OpenAI invested billions to build the model, DeepSeek only managed to produce the newest model with approximately $5.6 million. This puts forth the issue of price sustainability in AI and showcases the new firms which might change the entire scenario in comparison with a high-price model due to low-priced strategies.

Performance Capabilities

The DeepSeek AI models are created for complex reasoning performance. Reports are saying that DeepSeek-V3 is benchmarked to the top-performing models, demonstrating strong performance across mathematics, programming, and natural language processing. Performance metrics for DeepSeek-V3 compared with the best AI models can be seen below:

Model

Development Cost (in million USD)

Key Performance Areas

Benchmark Ranking

DeepSeek-V3

5.6

Mathematics, Programming, NLP

1

ChatGPT

1,000+

General Knowledge, Conversation

2

Google Bard

500+

Information Retrieval

3

Strategic Development Amid Restrictions

Many AI companies have faced challenges in the geopolitical landscape, especially those dependent on high-end hardware from U.S. manufacturers. DeepSeek has responded to U.S. sanctions that limit access to high-performance chips like Nvidia's A100 series by using a combination of high-performance chips and more affordable alternatives. This flexibility has enabled the company to develop powerful AI solutions without being overly dependent on expensive hardware.

Market Impact and Reactions

The rise of DeepSeek has made a huge impact on the technology sector and has evoked significant stock market reactions. In fact, for instance, Nvidia shares plummeted as DeepSeek gained popularity. This reaction illustrates broader concerns about the dominance of American companies in the field of AI and how competition from Chinese companies is likely to shift the dynamics in the market.

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Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen likened this moment to a "Sputnik moment," referencing the historical launch that initiated a competitive space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The rapid ascent of DeepSeek signifies not only a challenge to existing players but also raises questions about the future landscape of AI development globally.

Challenges Ahead

Despite its excellent growth and success, DeepSeek faces challenges in this highly competitive AI landscape:

  • Regulatory Scrutiny: This is a Chinese company in an industry highly scrutinized by different authorities at home and abroad.
  • Sustainability of Innovation: Though cheap to develop, sustaining innovation at scale will be essential for enduring success.
  • Market Competition: With established players like OpenAI and Google continuously evolving their offerings, DeepSeek must remain agile and responsive to market demands.

The rapid growth of DeepSeek AI is a testament to the disruption awaiting the artificial intelligence sector. It puts itself in a competitive advantage over giants such as ChatGPT and Google Bard by such open-source technologies, cost-efficient development methodologies, and powerful performance capabilities. As it faces the challenges that lie ahead of it, all the world's tech will be keenly interested in how this new participant will address its way to shape the future of AI development around the globe.

Kirti Sharma
Kirti Sharma

Content Writer

Kirti Sharma is a content writing professional with 3 years of experience in the EdTech Industry and Digital Content. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and worked with companies like ThoughtPartners Global, Infinite Group, and MIM-Essay. She writes for the General Knowledge and Current Affairs section of JagranJosh.com.

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