Artificial intelligence (AI) has grown rapidly in recent years. Language models can now write human-like text, create complex code, and even assist in research. While companies like OpenAI have led this space, new players like China-based DeepSeek are emerging with big ambitions. So, what is DeepSeek, and how does its flagship model, DeepSeek-R1, work?
DeepSeek: A New Leader in Artificial Intelligence
DeepSeek is an AI research center based in China. It is backed by High-Flyer Capital Management and has gained attention for its innovative models. Two of its most notable creations are DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-V3.
So, what makes DeepSeek stand out is its open-source approach. Developers can use and even monetize these models. This philosophy encourages wider adoption and greater flexibility for users.
How to Use DeepSeek-R1
You can access DeepSeek-R1 at chat.deepseek.com. First, you’ll need to create a free account. Once logged in, developers can use the API for various tasks. The API allows customization through fine-tuning or distillation to meet specific needs.
DeepSeek has released six distilled versions of its models. These range in size from 1.5 billion to 70 billion parameters. Despite being smaller, they maintain high efficiency and performance.
Impressive Benchmark Results
Also, DeepSeek-R1 has performed exceptionally well in benchmark tests. It achieved a 79.8% success rate on the AIME 2024 benchmark, surpassing OpenAI’s o1-1217 model. Its strengths include math, code generation, and reasoning tasks.
One of DeepSeek’s key innovations is DeepSeek-R1-Zero. This model is built on a reinforcement learning framework, allowing it to develop reasoning skills autonomously. In early tests, it scored 71% on the AIME 2024 benchmark. However, issues like readability and language mixing led to improvements in later versions.
A Strong Competitor
So, DeepSeek has proven to be a serious competitor in AI. It has been tested against leading models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Claude. In many cases, it outperformed them.
DeepSeek’s combination of innovation, open-source accessibility, and strong results makes it a rising star in AI. As the field evolves, this company is one to watch.
