The AI DeepSeek is causing a stir among AI companies. Because the AI is not only faster but also significantly more efficient. But what exactly is DeepSeek and which company is behind it?
The company DeepSeek has made quite a splash with its namesake AI: The AI is efficient, inexpensive, and requires significantly less computing power than other AI models like ChatGPT.
MeinMMO presents all the important information about DeepSeek and explains who is behind it.
- DeepSeek: Which company is behind it?
- Using DeepSeek in German
- DeepSeek: Prices and costs
- DeepSeek: Data protection
- DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: What do the chatbots offer in comparison?
Last updates: 29.01.25, 28.01.25
DeepSeek: Which company is behind it?
Who is behind DeepSeek? DeepSeek is the name of the Chinese start-up that developed the LLMs DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1. The abbreviation LLM stands for large language model and is a type of AI program that can recognize and generate text among other tasks.
The company was founded in May 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, an influential figure in the hedge fund and AI industry.
What is DeepSeek? The current LLM models of the company are DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1.
Both demonstrate impressive benchmarks compared to their competitors but consume significantly less resources due to the manner in which the LLMs were created. DeepSeek-V3 is a general-purpose model, while DeepSeek-R1 focuses on reasoning tasks.
Using DeepSeek in German
Can DeepSeek understand German? Yes, you can ask DeepSeek questions (prompts
) in German and the chatbot usually answers in German as well. There are sometimes English sentences mixed in among the German responses. The tool “DeepSeek Coder” for code generation is currently only available in English and Chinese.
DeepSeek: Prices and costs are significantly lower than ChatGPT
How much does DeepSeek cost? The DeepSeek chatbot is initially free. You can use the chatbot entirely without cost after a simple registration.
However, if you want to use DeepSeek professionally or connect an app with the DeepSeek API, costs will be incurred. These costs are significantly lower compared to ChatGPT:
- Currently, it costs only $0.55 per million input tokens and $2.19 per million output tokens. This is very inexpensive compared to OpenAI’s API, which currently costs $15 or $60.
DeepSeek: Data protection and content concerns
What could be a problem? Some experts have already voiced their concerns regarding data protection when using DeepSeek. Because some fear that the collected data could fall into the hands of the Chinese state, as DeepSeek is a Chinese company. A similar discussion is currently being held around the platform TikTok.
Are there blocked contents? Chinese platforms and software are generally known to block certain content regarding political events, such as the Tiananmen massacre. Some users report on Reddit.com that there are no answers to certain questions or that the AI is supposed to crash.
DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: What do the chatbots offer in comparison?
DeepSeek and ChatGPT are both powerful AI tools, but they cover different needs (via geeksforgeeks.com):
- DeepSeek is a more specialized tool known for its fast, cost-effective, and technical capabilities. If you’re looking for a technical, mathematical solution, then DeepSeek is the winner.
- ChatGPT is an all-rounder, known for its user-friendliness, versatility, and creativity. Here, you are presented with a broader range of options if you want to try things out.
- DeepSeek is a good choice when it comes to solving problems quickly and efficiently.
- ChatGPT, on the other hand, is versatile and is better suited for developing general content or engaging in conversations.
When it comes to the accuracy of answers, it always depends on the topic which chatbot provides better answers: In mathematical and coding problems, DeepSeek is somewhat more accurate, while for general questions, the answers from ChatGPT are better. It is also important to note: ChatGPT can process images and text, while DeepSeek can only process text.
Are DeepSeek and ChatGPT free? Yes, you can try both tools at no cost and play around with them. However, both chatbots also offer a paid option with more possibilities.
Is ChatGPT constantly overloaded or are you looking for a free alternative? MeinMMO introduces you to a whole range of alternatives in this article that you can use for free. We explain what the other models offer and what you can do with them. We also present the pros and cons. ChatGPT: 6 free alternatives to the successful chatbot from OpenAI
