I tested ChatGPT vs DeepSeek with 7 prompts — here's the...
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup founded in 2023, has gained significant popularity, currently ranking as the top free app on Apple's App Store. After last week’s ChatGPT outage, users were left scrambling for the best ChatGPT alternative, which might explain why DeepSeek is quickly emerging as a formidable player in the AI landscape.
Evaluating ChatGPT and DeepSeek
Eager to understand how DeepSeek RI measures up against ChatGPT, I conducted a comprehensive comparison between the two platforms. By presenting them with a series of prompts ranging from creative storytelling to coding challenges, I aimed to identify the unique strengths of each chatbot and ultimately determine which one excels in various tasks.
Below are seven prompts designed to test various aspects of language understanding, reasoning, creativity, and knowledge retrieval, ultimately leading me to the winner. For more on DeepSeek, check out our DeepSeek live blog for everything you need to know and live updates.
Prompt 1: Train Travel
"A train leaves New York at 8:00 AM traveling west at 60 mph. Another train leaves Los Angeles at 6:00 AM traveling east at 70 mph on the same track. If the distance between New York and Los Angeles is 2,800 miles, at what time will the two trains meet?"
ChatGPT showed the math, but in fewer steps than DeepSeek. However, after determining the answer myself, ChatGPT got it wrong, disqualifying it in this round.
DeepSeek R1 impressed with its speed and accuracy, winning this round.
Prompt 2: Prime Numbers
"Write a Python function that takes a list of integers and returns a new list containing only the prime numbers from the original list."
ChatGPT generated a simple Python function with detailed explanations, while DeepSeek R1 provided concise code but lacked the option to edit.
Winner: ChatGPT excels at coding by offering clear explanations and editing options.
Prompt 3: Translation
"Translate the following English sentence to Spanish: 'It's raining cats and dogs.'
ChatGPT translated the expression and provided additional information about regional variations. On the other hand, DeepSeek R1 not only translated but also explained the nuances and offered an example sentence.
Winner: DeepSeek R1 answered comprehensively without the need for further clarification.
Prompt 4: Fall of the Roman Empire
"Discuss the primary causes and consequences of the fall of the Roman Empire."
ChatGPT outlined the causes and consequences in a simplified manner, whereas DeepSeek R1 provided a more detailed analysis with additional historical context.
Winner: DeepSeek R1 wins this round for its detailed analysis and comprehensive conclusion.
