1. What is DeepSeek

Recently, a super dark horse in the AI field has emerged, and that is DeepSeek, officially known as Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Basic Technology Research Co., Ltd. Although it was established on July 17, 2023, making it a “young player,” it has already stirred up waves in the AI arena.

The birth of DeepSeek is like dropping a heavy bomb in the AI world. It focuses on developing advanced large language models (LLMs) and related technologies, quickly establishing a foothold in the highly competitive AI field with its unique technology and innovative concepts. In Silicon Valley, it has long been regarded as a “mysterious force from the East” and is one of the hot topics online, known as one of the “Six Little Dragons of Hangzhou,” which is enough to prove its international attention and influence.

Looking at its development history, DeepSeek has taken every step firmly and powerfully. In May 2024, it announced the open-source of its second-generation MoE large model, DeepSeek-V2, whose performance rivals GPT-4Turbo, yet its price is only one percent of GPT-4, thus earning the title of “AI’s Pinduoduo.” On November 20 of the same year, the preview version of the reasoning model DeepSeek-R1-Lite was launched, once again attracting industry attention. On December 26, the first version of DeepSeek-V3 was launched and open-sourced simultaneously, outperforming mainstream open-source models in several evaluations, with cost advantages that left competitors in the dust. On January 20, 2025, DeepSeek officially released the DeepSeek-R1 model, using pure deep learning methods to allow AI to spontaneously develop reasoning abilities, achieving performance comparable to OpenAI’s o1 model official version in tasks such as mathematics, code, and natural language reasoning, with a training cost of only 5.6 million dollars, shocking the global AI field.

In terms of core technology, DeepSeek has its own “secret weapon.” It employs advanced algorithms and architectures, such as optimized applications of the Transformer architecture, making the model more efficient and accurate in processing natural language. By learning from large amounts of text data, DeepSeek can understand and generate natural, fluent language, whether it be daily conversation, copywriting, or knowledge Q&A in professional fields. Moreover, DeepSeek emphasizes the quality and diversity of data during model training, carefully selecting and processing data to help the model learn richer and more accurate knowledge, thus enhancing its generalization ability and adaptability.

2. Advantages of DeepSeek

(1) Outstanding Performance

DeepSeek’s performance is astonishing, achieving remarkable results in various tests. In the authoritative GLUE benchmark test for natural language processing, DeepSeek demonstrated strong language understanding capabilities, scoring far above many similar models, even surpassing some previously regarded industry benchmarks. In language generation, it can produce logically coherent and content-rich text, whether writing stories, academic papers, or code comments, and the quality of the generated content is often so high that it is difficult to discern whether it was produced by a human or AI.

Compared to other mainstream models, DeepSeek is unparalleled in its reasoning capabilities. When solving complex mathematical problems and logical reasoning tasks, it can quickly and accurately provide answers, with a clear and understandable reasoning process. For example, when faced with a multi-layer reasoning math competition problem, DeepSeek-R1 can quickly analyze the problem and apply the correct reasoning methods to arrive at the answer, while some mainstream models either take a long time or provide incorrect answers. In code generation tasks, the code generated by DeepSeek-R1 is not only syntactically correct but also well-structured and readable, ready for direct application in actual project development, significantly improving development efficiency.

(2) Cost Advantages

DeepSeek achieves significant cost reductions through technological innovation, mainly due to its unique model architecture and training algorithms. The mixed expert (MoE) and multi-head latent attention (MLA) technologies it employs allow the model to activate only a portion of its parameters during operation to achieve high performance, greatly reducing the consumption of computational resources. During training, DeepSeek makes highly efficient use of data, optimizing data processing workflows to minimize unnecessary data storage and transmission costs.

This cost advantage has far-reaching implications for the development of the AI industry. On one hand, it lowers the application threshold for AI technology, allowing more enterprises and developers to leverage AI technology for innovation and business expansion. In the past, the high costs of using mainstream models deterred many small enterprises and individual developers, but now, the emergence of DeepSeek provides them with more choices. On the other hand, the reduction in costs also promotes the widespread application of AI technology in more fields, accelerating the digital transformation process across various industries.

For users, DeepSeek’s cost advantage means lower usage costs. Whether for individual users or enterprise users, they can enjoy high-quality AI services while reducing their investment in AI technology. This makes AI technology no longer the exclusive domain of a few large enterprises but truly benefits a wide range of users, driving AI technology into thousands of households.

(3) Open Source Strategy

Open source is of paramount importance for AI development. It breaks down technical barriers, allowing developers worldwide to participate in the research and innovation of AI technology. Through open source, the development of AI technology is no longer limited to a few enterprises and research institutions but forms a global innovation ecosystem. In this ecosystem, developers can share code, data, and experiences, collectively advancing the progress of AI technology.

DeepSeek’s open-source strategy has brought many positive impacts to the AI community. Since its open-sourcing, DeepSeek has attracted a large number of developers’ attention and participation, with community activity continuously rising. On open-source platforms like GitHub, DeepSeek’s open-source projects have garnered numerous stars and forks, with developers actively submitting code and suggesting improvements, contributing to the optimization and expansion of the model. Many developers have created various practical applications and tools based on DeepSeek’s open-source code, further expanding its application scenarios.

Open source also promotes the sharing and innovation of technology. Developers can draw on DeepSeek’s technologies and ideas, applying them to their projects to drive the advancement of AI technology as a whole. At the same time, open source allows DeepSeek to continuously absorb the wisdom and strength of the community, optimizing and improving the model, enhancing its performance and competitiveness.

3. Use Cases of DeepSeek

(1) Content Creation

In the field of content creation, DeepSeek is an excellent assistant for creators. Whether writing a unique article for a public account, composing a beautiful poem, or brainstorming a gripping story, DeepSeek can provide rich inspiration and materials. For example, when you want to write an article about the impact of technological development on life, DeepSeek can quickly provide relevant cases, data, and viewpoints, helping you build the article’s framework and enrich the content details. It can also adjust and optimize the generated content according to your writing style and requirements, making the article more aligned with your expectations. When creating poetry, DeepSeek can understand the rhythm and meaning of poetry, providing you with suitable vocabulary and expressions to enhance the literary quality and emotional impact of the poem. Many self-media creators have significantly improved their creative efficiency after using DeepSeek, completing content that originally took hours to conceive and write in a much shorter time, while also achieving higher content quality that attracts more readers’ attention.

(2) Intelligent Customer Service

In the customer service field, the application of DeepSeek has brought many conveniences to enterprises. It can quickly respond to customer inquiries and issues, whether they are common product information inquiries, after-sales service questions, or complex technical queries; DeepSeek can provide accurate answers in an instant. By learning from large amounts of customer inquiry data, DeepSeek can understand customer intent and provide personalized services. For example, when a customer inquires about how to use a certain product, DeepSeek can not only detail the operation steps of the product but also provide practical suggestions and tips based on the customer’s usage scenario. This greatly improves the efficiency and quality of customer service, reduces customer waiting time, and enhances customer satisfaction. Many enterprises have reported reduced workload for their customer service teams and a noticeable decline in customer complaints after introducing DeepSeek’s intelligent customer service, establishing a good brand image for the companies.

(3) Educational Assistance

For students and educators, DeepSeek is a powerful educational assistance tool. When students encounter subject-related problems during their learning process, DeepSeek can serve as an always-online teacher to answer their questions. Whether it is a math problem, physical principles, historical events, or language poetry, DeepSeek can provide detailed explanations and analyses. It can also offer personalized learning materials based on students’ learning situations and needs, helping them consolidate knowledge points and broaden their knowledge base. For example, when preparing for an English exam, DeepSeek can provide students with vocabulary memorization methods, grammar practice materials, and analyses of past exam questions. For educators, DeepSeek can assist them in developing teaching plans, designing teaching strategies, and providing rich teaching cases and materials, making the teaching process more lively and interesting, thus improving teaching effectiveness.

(4) Other Fields

In the medical field, DeepSeek can assist doctors in diagnosing diseases and formulating treatment plans. By analyzing patients’ medical records, symptoms, and test results, DeepSeek can provide possible disease diagnosis suggestions, helping doctors make more accurate judgments about the condition. In drug development, DeepSeek can analyze vast amounts of medical data to screen potential drug targets, accelerating the drug development process.

In the financial field, DeepSeek can be used for risk assessment and investment decision-making. It can analyze market data, corporate financial statements, and other information to evaluate the risks and returns of investment projects, providing investors with decision-making references. Additionally, DeepSeek can be used for intelligent investment advising, formulating personalized investment portfolios based on investors’ risk preferences and investment goals.

In the design field, DeepSeek can provide creative inspiration and design plans for designers. For example, in graphic design, DeepSeek can generate different styles of design sketches based on clients’ needs and brand characteristics; in interior design, DeepSeek can offer suggestions for furniture placement and decor matching based on spatial layout and client preferences.

4. 90% of Users Don’t Know These Tips

(1) Questioning Techniques

When communicating with DeepSeek, the way you ask questions is crucial. Many people feel that DeepSeek’s answers are not ideal, often because their questions are not precise enough. For example, if you want to write a travel guide, don’t just ask, “Write a travel guide,” but specify, “I plan to travel to Yunnan for 7 days with a budget of 5000 yuan, preferring natural scenery and local specialties, please help me create a detailed travel guide including daily itinerary, transportation methods, food recommendations, and accommodation suggestions.” By clearly stating your needs, scenarios, and constraints, DeepSeek can provide answers that are more in line with your expectations. Additionally, including some guiding phrases when asking questions, such as “Analyze from an innovative perspective” or “Compare the pros and cons of different options,” can make DeepSeek’s answers more in-depth and targeted.

(2) Command Utilization

DeepSeek supports various advanced commands, and effectively using these commands can elevate your user experience. If you want structured output, such as writing a project report, you can use the command, “Please present the project’s progress, results, and issues in table format,” and DeepSeek will organize the content in a tabular format for clarity. If you have specific style requirements for the output, such as wanting a humorous product promotion copy, the command can be, “Write a promotional copy for [product name] in a humorous and witty tone, highlighting the product’s unique selling points.” By specifying output formats, styles, and content lengths, you can better control DeepSeek’s output to meet various needs in different scenarios.

(3) Multi-Turn Conversation Techniques

Multi-turn conversation is key to DeepSeek’s understanding of complex issues. When communicating with it, maintain continuity and logic in the dialogue. For instance, if you are discussing a project plan, start with a question like, “Help me brainstorm a preliminary plan for an online marketing campaign,” and after receiving the plan, follow up with, “What risks might be encountered with this plan, and how can they be addressed?” This gradual deepening allows DeepSeek to better understand your intent based on context and provide more comprehensive answers. In multi-turn conversations, summarizing the content from the previous round and guiding DeepSeek into the next discussion point can make the dialogue smoother and more efficient.

(4) Combining with Other Tools

Combining DeepSeek with other tools can create wonderful synergies. In office tasks, integrating DeepSeek with office software like WPS or Excel allows you to use DeepSeek to generate content and then import it into office software for formatting and data processing. For example, you can generate the text content for a market research report using DeepSeek, then copy it into Word for formatting adjustments and chart insertion, greatly enhancing office efficiency. In the drawing field, DeepSeek can provide creative inspiration for drawing tools. For instance, if you want to design a poster, first let DeepSeek generate some creative descriptions and element suggestions based on the poster’s theme, and then use drawing software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator to turn these ideas into actual poster designs, making the design process more efficient and creative.

5. Considerations for Using DeepSeek

(1) Content Accuracy

Despite DeepSeek’s powerful capabilities, the content it generates is not 100% accurate. It generates answers based on learning from large amounts of data, which may lead to information bias or errors. For example, in the medical field, DeepSeek’s answers regarding disease diagnosis and treatment suggestions should only be used as references and should never replace professional medical diagnoses. Users must verify information obtained from DeepSeek against other reliable sources, especially when it involves important decisions or specialized knowledge, to avoid losses due to incorrect information.

(2) Privacy and Security

When using DeepSeek, protecting personal privacy and data security is crucial. Users should carefully read and understand DeepSeek’s privacy policy to know how their data will be collected, used, and stored. Avoid entering sensitive personal information, such as ID numbers or bank card passwords, when interacting with DeepSeek. If using DeepSeek’s enterprise version or processing commercial data, enterprises must ensure that data transmission and storage comply with relevant security standards and regulations to prevent data breaches that could pose risks to the business. Additionally, users should pay attention to security announcements released by DeepSeek to stay informed about potential security vulnerabilities and response measures.

(3) Rational Use

DeepSeek is a powerful tool, but we must not become overly reliant on it, losing our own thinking and creativity. When using DeepSeek to assist in creation and problem-solving, we should maintain our ability to think independently and critically analyze the content generated by DeepSeek. For instance, in the writing process, while DeepSeek can provide inspiration and materials, the final creative ideas and expressions should reflect one’s own characteristics. Over-reliance on AI may lead to cognitive laziness and diminish one’s abilities. We should view DeepSeek as a tool to enhance ourselves rather than as a replacement for our own thinking, enjoying the convenience brought by AI while continuously improving our overall qualities.

6. Summary and Outlook

DeepSeek stands out in the AI field with its outstanding performance, significant cost advantages, and open-source strategy, bringing us efficient and intelligent service experiences. Mastering these little-known usage tips can help us fully tap into DeepSeek’s potential, making it better serve our work, study, and life.

Looking ahead, with continuous technological advancements, DeepSeek is expected to achieve breakthroughs in more fields, injecting new vitality into the development of the AI industry. It may play a greater role in key areas such as healthcare, finance, and education, driving intelligent transformations in these industries. Whether improving diagnostic accuracy, optimizing investment decisions, or innovating educational models, DeepSeek has unlimited possibilities.

If you haven’t tried DeepSeek yet, why not take action now? I believe you will be impressed by its powerful features during your use and embark on a brand new AI exploration journey.