A Complete How-To Guide to Deepseek Chatbot

The AI landscape has experienced a seismic shift in recent weeks. For years, titans like OpenAI and Google have set the industry's standards, but the introduction of the Deepseek models has upended conventional thinking. These affordable yet powerful models challenge established assumptions about what it takes to build state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs). In this article, we'll explore this innovative tool in detail, helping you understand its inner workings and how to harness its potential effectively.

What is Deepseek?

Since its launch, Deepseek has sparked widespread discussion and speculation. Many have noted that its emergence might be linked to recent dips in tech stock prices, while others point out that it rivals—and in some cases even surpasses—the performance of prominent models from OpenAI, all at a fraction of the cost. Amid this buzz, the central question remains: what exactly is Deepseek?

Deepseek is more than just a chatbot; it's both a product and the name of the company behind it. Currently topping the app store charts, Deepseek allows users to interact in a conversational manner, similar to ChatGPT. The latest breakthrough comes in the form of its new R1 model—a key driver behind the company's recent success. This open-source model not only offers enhanced performance but also provides developers with greater flexibility and transparency compared to proprietary alternatives like GPT-4o and Gemini.

Getting Started with Deepseek

Now that you have a clearer understanding of what Deepseek is, it's time to dive in. At present, the Deepseek web app is available free of charge to all users, though an account is required for access.

Creating an Account

To begin using Deepseek, navigate to https://www.deepseek.com and click the "Start Now" button.

You'll then be presented with a screen prompting you to log in or sign up.

Currently, there are no paid subscription tiers for the web app. However, if you're interested in API usage, you can visit the Deepseek Docs for pricing details.

Exploring the Interface

Once your account is set up, it's time to familiarize yourself with the Deepseek interface.

Let's break down the key elements, starting from the top left:

• Creating New Chats (Green): Click this button to initiate a fresh conversation with Deepseek, which resets the conversation history (context window).
• Chat History (Red): This panel displays your previous conversations. Hover over any conversation and click the three dots to remove or rename it.
• Profile / Settings (Purple): Located in the bottom left corner, clicking "My Profile" grants access to your account settings.
• Chat Features (Yellow): Options like Search and DeepThink can be selected when posing a question. We'll delve into these features shortly.
• File Upload (Blue): Use the paper clip icon to upload files. Note that Deepseek currently extracts and processes only text from uploaded files.

The central area is dedicated to the main chat, where you'll ask questions and receive responses from the model.

What Types of Inputs Can Deepseek Use?

Deepseek, like any modern chatbot in 2025, is designed to handle a variety of input types:

Text Prompts:
The primary input method is text. Engage in a conversational Q&A format to get detailed answers.

Code Snippets:
Deepseek supports code inputs, allowing you to share code segments and receive feedback, explanations, or even generate new code based on your input.

File Uploads:
You can also upload files for Deepseek to process. Currently, this feature is limited to extracting and interacting with text content, so non-text elements (like images) aren't directly interpretable.

Key Features

It's important to note that the current version of Deepseek (as of February 2025) is relatively barebones. While it may lack some advanced functionalities expected from chatbots in 2025, it still offers a robust set of features. Let's explore what Deepseek brings to the table.

DeepThink (R1)

Deepseek offers two distinct models. The default is the V3 model, but you can switch to the R1 model by clicking the "DeepThink (R1)" button. One of the standout features of Deepseek is its DeepThink (R1) reasoning model. Unlike traditional models that immediately generate a response based solely on training, the reasoning model takes time to “think” about its answer, iteratively refining it before delivering the final output. This process, known as Test-Time Compute (TTC), significantly enhances both accuracy and depth, marking a notable shift in the AI ecosystem. Recent developments across the industry have embraced TTC to overcome limitations related to data, scaling, and resource costs.

Below is an example showcasing the internal reasoning process, where the model appears to engage in a self-dialogue as it works through a problem:

Once the internal reasoning reaches a satisfactory conclusion, the model shares the refined answer with you. For complex or multi-step problems, utilizing the reasoning model is highly recommended. According to Deepseek's documentation, the R1 reasoning model consistently outperforms the standard V3 model.

Search

All LLMs face the inherent limitation of relying on static training data that can quickly become outdated. To address this, Deepseek incorporates a Search feature. This tool supplements your questions by querying the internet for the most current information before providing an answer. For instance, if you ask the standard Deepseek model about a recent event—like the Super Bowl halftime show—it might initially fall short. However, by activating the Search feature, you'll receive a detailed and timely response.

Who Can Use Deepseek?

Deepseek is designed with accessibility in mind. Whether you're looking to replace your regular search engine queries or seeking an in-depth explanation of complex topics, Deepseek offers utility for both professional and casual users. Its free availability makes it an attractive option for a wide range of applications.

How Does Deepseek Compare to Other Chatbots?

While Deepseek is a potent tool, it does have its limitations. The interface currently lacks some of the more advanced features found in competing chatbots, such as project management or voice interaction modes. Additionally, features like image generation and file-based image uploads are not available. One notable limitation is that both the R1 and V3 models have a context window of only 128k tokens, which is smaller than OpenAI's 200k and Google's 2-million token windows. Despite these constraints, both models are robust LLMs that perform at or above par with other state-of-the-art systems.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Free: One of Deepseek's most attractive aspects is that it's entirely free, with all features available without charge.
• Simplicity: The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it quick to get started without a steep learning curve.
• Performance: Deepseek's models deliver state-of-the-art performance, ensuring that complex problems are tackled effectively.

Weaknesses:

• Barebones Features: The simplicity that benefits some users may be a drawback for others, as the current version lacks advanced functionalities like image generation or project management.
• Censorship: A significant concern is that certain topics or facts are censored, which, while not rendering the chatbot unusable, is a limitation users should be aware of.

Conclusion

Although the current iteration of Deepseek may seem basic compared to platforms like Gemini and ChatGPT, it lays a solid foundation for future enhancements. Notably, Deepseek's models are developed at a remarkably low cost, hinting at a future where high-performance LLMs can be built much more economically. Furthermore, the open-source nature of Deepseek demonstrates that advanced AI can be developed transparently and collaboratively. While I remain more impressed with the broader impact Deepseek is having on the AI ecosystem than with the current product's polish, I am optimistic about the potential for growth and innovation on this platform.