A new competitor has surfaced from the East, upending the global IT sector as the artificial intelligence (AI) environment changes at a dizzying rate. DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed AI app, has rapidly gained popularity, becoming the most downloaded free app in the US just one week after its launch.

Its ascent has shaken financial markets in addition to making headlines. Former US President Donald Trump even voiced his opinion, referring to it as “a wake-up call” for US IT companies. But how does DeepSeek truly compare to established Western AI giants like OpenAI’s Chatgpt and Google’s Gemini?

Let’s break down this global AI showdown: DeepSeek vs Chatgpt—across core areas like writing, coding, creativity, education, and cost-efficiency.

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DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: Writing Assistance: Precision vs Detail

ChatGPT is well-known for its writing support, from content ideation to complete blog drafts. It’s become a go-to assistant for writers, marketers, students, and professionals alike.

To test writing skills, we prompted both models to write about the greatest Scottish footballers in history.

• DeepSeek delivered a quick, clean Top 10 list led by the legendary Kenny Dalglish. It included club affiliations, positions, and key achievements. Interestingly, it also mentioned non-Scottish legends like Henrik Larsson and Brian Laudrup due to their impact in the Scottish league.

• Chatgpt, meanwhile, provided a more comprehensive blog-style article. Its version focused on accurate historical context and ended with a well-rounded conclusion: “While the game has changed over the decades, the impact of these Scottish greats remains timeless.”

Verdict: DeepSeek is faster and concise, great for quick outputs. Chatgpt offers a deeper narrative structure, ideal for long-form writing.

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Coding Capabilities: Surprising Strength from DeepSeek

Developers often turn to AI tools for real-time programming help. Chatgpt has already become a silent coding companion to thousands of engineers. However, DeepSeek is turning heads in the dev community.

AI researcher Javier Aguirre from Samsung Medical Centre shared that DeepSeek solved a complex coding problem that even ChatGPT-4 couldn’t. Its logic-based reasoning and straightforward coding solutions stood out.

Google’s Addy Osmani, a top Chrome developer, also praised a hybrid approach—pairing DeepSeek with Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet—for optimised coding workflows.

And it gets better—DeepSeek is considerably more cost-efficient, making it accessible for solo developers and startups alike.

Verdict: DeepSeek matches and sometimes exceeds Chatgpt’s coding capabilities, especially in complex logic-based problems.

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Brainstorming & Creativity: Different Styles, Same Goal

When asked to brainstorm a children’s story idea about a boy living on the moon:

• Chatgpt gave six unique story ideas, each with charming plots and imaginative characters—ideal for brainstorming sessions.

• DeepSeek responded with a complete 387-word story about a moon-dwelling boy named Milo. Although simpler in narrative, the delivery was swift and story-ready.

Verdict: Chatgpt excels at ideation, while DeepSeek favors execution—a great tool for getting complete drafts quickly.

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Learning & Research: Depth vs Brevity

On a more serious note, both chatbots were asked to explain the causes of World War I—a nuanced historical topic.

• Chatgpt offered a detailed, multi-causal explanation highlighting complex alliances, militarism, and political tensions leading to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

• DeepSeek, while briefer, covered the main triggers concisely and understandably—perfect for a quick summary.

Google’s Gemini also delivered comparable answers with extra links to reputable sources like the Imperial War Museum, but that’s a different story.

Verdict: Chatgpt is ideal for deeper understanding and academic-level detail, while DeepSeek provides accurate overviews for casual learning.

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Cost & Accessibility: A Game-Changer?

Perhaps the most significant revelation is DeepSeek’s cost advantage.

Despite being a high-performing model, DeepSeek R1 was reportedly built at a fraction of the cost compared to GPT-4 and Claude Sonnet. This affordability makes it a game-changer in the global AI race, offering near-premium performance without the premium price tag.

Verdict: DeepSeek is significantly more cost-effective, making powerful AI accessible to a wider audience.

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Final Thoughts: A Wake-Up Call or a New Era?

The success of DeepSeek, beyond its features, demonstrates how quickly AI is being created outside of Silicon Valley.DeepSeek shows that AI genius is no longer restricted by national borders, even though US-based giants like Google and Openai have led the initiative.

As Professor Neil Lawrence of the University of Cambridge aptly put it:

“There’s plenty of space for budding James Watts to emerge, and they are less likely to come from established players.”

Just like the industrial revolution didn’t belong to a single nation, the AI revolution is up for grabs. And DeepSeek may just be the steam engine that pushes the industry forward.

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Final Verdict: DeepSeek vs ChatGPT

Which one is better? That depends on your needs. If you’re after affordability, speed, and compact solutions, DeepSeek is a solid choice. If you need in-depth context, refined outputs, and robust customisation, Chatgpt still holds the edge.

But one thing’s clear—the AI race is far from over, and DeepSeek has officially entered the chat.

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