OpenAI has introduced its cutting-edge AI agent, Deep Research, which has been designed to tackle large-scale online information gathering and multi-step research tasks. It is currently available for ChatGPT Pro, Plus, and Team Next users- this advanced AI tool is set to compete directly with the Chinese AI tool DeepSeek R1, which has recently made many headlines.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI has described Deep Research as an ‘on-demand superpower’ for solving complex problems.
Deep Research is a revolutionary AI tool that will simplify solving tasks while delivering expert advice. Tasks that typically take hours or even days can now be completed in seconds.
According to OpenAI’s Vice President of Engineering, Srinivas Narayanan, Deep Research is excelling at: Breaking down complex questions,Analyzing inputs from the internet, and Interpreting files for insightful solutions. This advanced AI agent has handled a variety of applications, like: Preparing research reports, Offering personalized shopping advice, and Planning travel itineraries. Furthermore, it supports complex reasoning and Python-based analysis, making it versatile for professionals across fields. Narayanan has further emphasized that the tool integrates OpenAI’s o3 large language model to ensure highly accurate and reliable responses.
Deep Research can answer intricate questions and analyze detailed data in under 30 minutes. File analysis: Users can attach files and spreadsheets to obtain tailored responses and reports. Web browsing and Python Support: The AI can browse the internet and execute Python-based data analysis for comprehensive results. Personalized reports: They prepare custom solutions by combining contextual inputs from users. Users must subscribe to the ChatGPT Pro or Plus plan to access this advanced AI tool. Once activated, Deep Research can be accessed directly from the ChatGPT message composer. Users can feed in their queries, upload relevant files, and receive detailed, personalized reports in a matter of minutes.
In the world of AI, there has been a prevailing notion that developing leading-edge large language models requires significant technical and financial resources. That’s one of the main reasons why the U.S. government pledged to support the $500 billion Stargate Project announced by President Donald Trump.
However Chinese AI development firm DeepSeek has disrupted that notion. On Jan. 20, 2025, DeepSeek released its R1 LLM at a fraction of the cost that other vendors incurred in their developments. DeepSeek is also providing its R1 models under an open-source license, enabling free use.
Within days of its release, the DeepSeek AI assistant — a mobile app that provides a chatbot interface for DeepSeek R1 — hit the top of Apple’s App Store chart, outranking OpenAI’s ChatGPT mobile app. The meteoric rise of DeepSeek in terms of usage and popularity triggered a stock market sell-off on Jan. 27, 2025, as investors cast doubt on the value of large AI vendors based in the U.S., including Nvidia. Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Oracle, Broadcom and other tech giants also saw significant drops as investors reassessed AI valuations.
DeepSeek is an AI development firm based in Hangzhou, China. The company was founded by Liang Wenfeng, a graduate of Zhejiang University, in May 2023. Wenfeng also co-founded High-Flyer, a China-based quantitative hedge fund that owns DeepSeek. Currently, DeepSeek operates as an independent AI research lab under the umbrella of High-Flyer. The full amount of funding and the valuation of DeepSeek have not been publicly disclosed.
DeepSeek focuses on developing open-source LLMs. The company’s first model was released in November 2023. The company has iterated multiple times on its core LLM and has built out several different variations. However, it wasn’t until January 2025 after the release of its R1 reasoning model that the company became globally famous.
The company provides multiple services for its models, including a web interface, mobile application, and API access. DeepSeek represents the latest challenge to OpenAI, which established itself as an industry leader with the debut of ChatGPT in 2022. OpenAI has helped push the generative AI industry forward with its GPT family of models, as well as its o1 class of reasoning models.
The field of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, with new players constantly emerging and challenging established giants. Two such contenders are Deepseek AI and OpenAI, both offering powerful AI models with unique strengths and capabilities. This article provides a comprehensive comparison of Deepseek AI and OpenAI, examining their core technologies, key features, pricing structures, and ideal use cases.
OpenAI is renowned for its large language models (LLMs), most notably the GPT series (Generative Pre-trained Transformer). These models are trained on massive datasets of text and code, enabling them to generate human-like text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer your questions in an informative way. OpenAI also develops other AI models for image generation (DALL-E) and code generation (Codex).
Deepseek AI, while a newer entrant, has quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach to AI. Deepseek focuses on building modular and transparent AI solutions, with a strong emphasis on explainability and adaptability. This makes Deepseek particularly well-suited for industries like healthcare and finance, where understanding the reasoning behind AI decisions is crucial. Deepseek’s R1 model, for instance, leverages a hybrid training approach combining reinforcement learning with supervised fine-tuning, leading to impressive performance in reasoning-heavy tasks.
Both Deepseek AI and OpenAI offer a range of powerful features, but their strengths lie in different areas:
OpenAI excels in:
Natural Language Processing (NLP): GPT models are known for their advanced NLP capabilities, enabling them to understand and generate human-like text with remarkable accuracy.
Creative Content Generation: From writing stories and poems to composing emails and articles, OpenAI’s models can assist with various creative content needs.
Code Generation: Codex, OpenAI’s code generation model, can help developers write code faster and more efficiently.
General Problem Solving: OpenAI’s models can be used for a wide range of tasks, including answering questions, summarizing text, and translating languages.
Deepseek AI stands out in: Reasoning and Logic: Deepseek’s models, particularly R1, demonstrate strong performance in tasks requiring complex reasoning and logical deduction. Multi-language Support: Deepseek offers robust multi-language support, making it suitable for global applications. Explainability: Deepseek prioritises transparency and explainability, allowing users to understand how the AI arrives at its conclusions. Customisability: Deepseek’s models are designed to be adaptable and customisable, catering to specific industry needs and requirements.
OpenAI offers a tiered pricing structure, with costs varying based on the model used and the volume of requests. While OpenAI provides free access to some of its models, more advanced features and higher usage limits come at a premium.
Deepseek AI, on the other hand, is known for its affordability. Deepseek R1, for example, offers free access for up to 50 daily messages, and its API pricing is significantly lower than OpenAI’s. This makes Deepseek an attractive option for individuals and smaller organisations seeking powerful AI capabilities without the hefty price tag.
Content Creation: Writers, marketers, and content creators can leverage OpenAI’s models to generate high-quality content, from blog posts and social media updates to marketing copy and scripts.
Customer Service: OpenAI’s conversational AI capabilities can be used to build chatbots that provide efficient and engaging customer support.
Education: OpenAI’s models can assist students with learning, provide educators with tools for creating engaging content, and aid researchers in exploring complex topics.
Healthcare: Deepseek’s explainable AI models can assist in medical diagnosis, treatment planning, and drug discovery, where transparency and accuracy are paramount.
Finance: Deepseek can be used for fraud detection, risk assessment, and algorithmic trading, leveraging its strong reasoning and analytical capabilities.
Software Development: Deepseek’s R1 model can help developers with code generation, debugging, and code optimisation.
Research: Deepseek’s adaptable models can be used for various research purposes, including data analysis, scientific discovery, and AI development.
OpenAI Strengths: Advanced NLP capabilities, Versatile and widely applicable, trong community and ecosystem. Extensive documentation and support,
OpenAI Weaknesses: Can be expensive for high-volume usage, Limited explainability in some models, Potential biases in training data, Deepseek AI Strengths: Affordable and accessible, Strong focus on reasoning and logic, Excellent multi-language support, Transparent and explainable AI, Highly customizable models.
Deepseek AI Weaknesses: A newer player with a smaller community, May not be as versatile as OpenAI for general tasks, Still under development with evolving capabilities, Both Deepseek AI and OpenAI offer powerful AI solutions, each with its strengths and weaknesses. OpenAI is a more established player with advanced NLP capabilities and a wide range of applications. Deepseek AI, while newer, stands out with its affordability, focus on reasoning and explainability, and customisable models.
OpenAI: As a prominent player, OpenAI faces increasing scrutiny regarding data privacy. While they have implemented measures to protect user data, concerns remain about the vast amounts of information used to train their models and the potential for data misuse. The complexity of their models can also make it challenging to audit and ensure complete data security.
Deepseek AI: Deepseek’s focus on modularity and explainability could potentially offer advantages in data privacy. A more transparent architecture might make it easier to track data flow and identify potential vulnerabilities. Furthermore, their emphasis on efficiency could lead to models that require less data for training, reducing the risk of exposing sensitive information. However, it’s important to note that both companies must adhere to evolving data privacy regulations (like GDPR) and demonstrate robust security practices.
OpenAI: OpenAI offers fine-tuning capabilities, allowing users to adapt pre-trained models to specific tasks and datasets. This can significantly improve performance in niche areas. However, the process can be computationally expensive and require significant expertise.
Deepseek AI: Deepseek’s modular approach could facilitate easier customisation. The ability to modify and combine different components of their models might allow users to tailor them more precisely to their needs, potentially with less computational overhead. This could be a significant advantage for smaller organisations or researchers with limited resources. The emphasis on transparency might also make it easier to understand how fine-tuning affects the model’s behaviour.
OpenAI: The “black box” nature of many OpenAI models is a significant challenge. Understanding why a model produces a particular output is often difficult, hindering trust and making it harder to identify and correct biases or errors. This is a major concern in critical applications where accountability is essential.
Deepseek AI: Deepseek’s focus on explainability aims to address this issue. By making their models more transparent, they hope to build greater trust and enable users to understand the reasoning behind their outputs. This is particularly important in regulated industries like finance and healthcare, where explainability is often a regulatory requirement.
OpenAI: OpenAI has a large and active community, with extensive documentation, tutorials, and third-party tools. This makes it easier for developers to get started and build applications using their models. The strong community also contributes to rapid innovation and the sharing of best practices.
Deepseek AI: As a newer player, Deepseek’s community is still growing. While they may not yet have the same level of community support as OpenAI, their focus on open collaboration and transparency could attract a dedicated following. Building a strong ecosystem will be crucial for their long-term success.
OpenAI: OpenAI’s models are generally designed for broad applicability, targeting a wide range of tasks and industries. This makes them versatile but potentially less specialised for specific niches.
Deepseek AI: Deepseek’s focus on efficiency and reasoning could position them as leaders in specific niches, such as scientific research, code generation, and data analysis. By tailoring their models to these areas, they can potentially offer superior performance and value.
Both companies are likely to focus on improving the efficiency, explainability, and safety of their models. Multimodal capabilities, enabling models to process and generate different types of data (text, images, audio), will also be a key area of development. Furthermore, addressing ethical concerns related to bias, fairness, and the potential misuse of AI will be crucial for both companies.
It’s important to remember that the field of AI is evolving at an incredibly rapid pace. The relative strengths and weaknesses of Deepseek AI and OpenAI will continue to shift as both companies innovate and develop new capabilities. Keeping a close eye on their progress will be essential for anyone looking to leverage the power of AI.
