DeepSeek

DeepSeekWhat is Same

DeepSeek is an AI conversational assistant designed for individual users, and it also provides models and API services for developers. General users can access it fromofficial websiteVisit the web version or download the official app to use it for Q&A, writing, reading, problem-solving, and translation; developers can integrate the model into their own applications through an independent, open platform. There are three different ways to use it: via the assistant, by calling the API, or by deploying the open model yourself.

The product is provided by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Basic Technology Research Co., Ltd. and its affiliates. The team not only develops conversational applications but also continuously releases models, technical reports, and open weights. In December 2024, DeepSeek-V3 was released;An official announcement on January 15, 2025, announced the app's launch, On the 20th of that month,DeepSeek-R1Released and simultaneously made available on the official website and app. V3 and R1 are model iterations; these dates should not be considered the launch dates for the DeepSeek brand as a whole or for the web version.

A key change in Phase R1 is the integration of reasoning models into users’ everyday conversations, with a focus on math, code, and natural language reasoning. Since then, the app has continued to expand the ways it handles content; the official mobile version now supports image and file uploads, image recognition, as well as copying, downloading, and full-screen previewing of spreadsheets. The model is continuously updated; when using it, please refer to the current interface as provided, rather than relying on model names and button locations from earlier tutorials.

Key Features of DeepSeek

Text-Based Q&A and Reasoning Assistance

DeepSeek can explain concepts, organize thoughts, edit text, translate content, and discuss code. For problems with multiple conditions, it’s best to first have it organize the known information and identify any missing conditions, and then compare possible solutions. When studying, you can provide your own attempts and have it analyze where you went wrong; at work, you can provide a draft and specify which facts cannot be changed and whether the changes should involve structure or wording.

A lengthy analysis process does not necessarily mean the conclusion is correct. You can ask for concise justification, calculation formulas, counterexamples, or test cases, and then independently verify the key steps. Especially for coding and math problems, you should distinguish between “seeming to make sense” and “passing execution or verification.”

Reading Documents and Images

After uploading materials, you can ask questions about the content, extract key points, or organize the information into a table. Image analysis is useful for explaining the information in screenshots and identifying what’s shown in the images, while document reading is best for locating relevant paragraphs based on questions. When working with scanned documents, handwritten content, or complex tables, first verify that the text and numbers have been recognized correctly before proceeding with your analysis. When there are a large number of materials, you can first ask the student to list the main topics of each document and then delve into them one by one, thereby reducing the risk of mixing content from different documents.

Online Search and Structured Output

When you need recent information, you can use online searches to gather external data. Specifying the time frame, source types, and comparison criteria will yield more useful results than simply asking, “Can you look this up for me?” Figures and facts used in reports should include their corresponding sources; conclusions not explicitly stated in the source material should be clearly distinguished from those derived from supplementary research and model-based inferences.

Comparison lists, glossaries, and data summaries can be organized into tables; the mobile app supports copying, downloading, and full-screen viewing of the generated tables. While tables are convenient to view, this does not mean a workbook with formulas that can be maintained over the long term has been created; if a complex Excel model is required, you should first clarify the file format and calculation requirements before reviewing the actual deliverables.

Developer Access

Official API DocumentationIt provides API documentation and model descriptions, making it suitable for integrating conversational capabilities into your own products or business processes. During development, you must handle authentication, billing, failed calls, and data permissions separately; the terms of use for the consumer app cannot be directly applied to the API. The official website also lists the Harness desktop portal; users who prefer a desktop-based workflow can find the corresponding product in the official navigation menu.

What Tasks Is It Suitable For?

• Learning and Problem Analysis:Analyze the problem conditions, compare different solution methods, check your own derivations, and finally verify your understanding using independent examples.
• Reading Material:Organize reports, manuals, or course materials into lists of questions, chapter summaries, and comparison tables to make it easier to return to the original text and continue reading.
• Chinese Writing and Translation:Draft explanations, rewrite text, or standardize terminology based on the available facts. Important names and numbers should be locked to prevent changes during editing.
• Programming Aids:Explain error messages, discuss function design, and add test cases. When real-world projects are involved, provide the necessary context and validate the code in a real-world environment.

How to Use DeepSeek to Understand a Technical Report

1. Set reading goals.Upload a report you are authorized to use, and explain the problem you want to solve—for example, “To understand the prerequisites and limitations of this solution so I can explain it to my non-technical colleagues.”
2. Confirm the scope of the materials.First, list the chapters, key terms, and the experiments or data sources involved. Check for any omissions in the appendices, figure captions, and qualifying statements near the conclusions.
3. Gather evidence based on the issue.You could suggest: “Organize the problems, methods, results, and limitations separately, indicating the corresponding chapter or a verifiable excerpt from the original text for each item. Mark any content not included in the report as ”not specified.’” Do not ask them to provide a general evaluation of the proposal’s merits or flaws right from the start.
4. Addressing difficulties in understanding.Provide plain-language explanations and examples for unfamiliar concepts; if the topic involves the latest developments, supplement the information with search results, and list the supplementary sources separately from the original report text.
5. Print and review.Compile the confirmed content into a single-page explanation or comparison table. Randomly check key terms, values, and conclusions; provide feedback on any errors so they can be corrected; and retain the original report and necessary references for future use.

The goal of this process is to reduce the effort required to understand and organize the data. Whether the report is applicable to a specific business context depends on the data conditions, assumptions, and usage environment; decisions should not be made based solely on the summary.

How to Choose Between DeepSeek and Similar Assistants

Using the task of “understanding a report and organizing the results” as a common benchmark, we can compare DeepSeek, Kimi, and Doubao.

When comparing results, consider whether the entire text has been read, whether the answers can be traced back to the source text, and whether the resulting output meets the requirements. It is not appropriate to equate a single model’s test results directly with the overall user experience. Before uploading, remove any irrelevant personal information and trade secrets, and verify the facts, code, and calculations before formally adopting the answers.