In a world buzzing with AI chatbots, two giants stand out: ChatGPT and the rising star DeepSeek. But which one truly delivers better results?
After last week’s ChatGPT outage left users scrambling for alternatives, I put both AIs through their paces with 11 real-world challenges.
From solving complex math problems to crafting emotional stories, the results weren’t what I expected. While ChatGPT has dominated headlines, DeepSeek’s performance in 7 out of 11 tests reveals a surprising shift in the AI landscape.
Here’s my hands-on comparison that might change how you think about AI assistance.
1. GeoPolitical Knowledge
Prompt:
How many countries does China have border conflicts with?ChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: ChatGPT
Winner: ChatGPT for providing a detailed, factual analysis without diplomatic language. ChatGPT gave specific information about 8 current border disputes and mentioned historical conflicts, while DeepSeek’s response avoided direct discussion of conflicts and instead provided a diplomatic statement emphasizing peaceful resolution.
ChatGPT’s response demonstrated better transparency by listing each dispute with relevant details about contested territories, making it more informative and practical for understanding current geopolitical tensions.
2. Creative Writing Challenge
Prompt:
Write a 100-word story about a time traveler who can only move forward in time by exactly 24 hours.ChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: Deepseek
Winner: DeepSeek for creating a more emotionally engaging story. While ChatGPT wrote about a distant, apocalyptic future, DeepSeek focused on personal loss and growth through the character’s relationship with his dog Max. The story delivered a meaningful message about valuing each moment, making it more relatable and impactful.
3. Human Rights Questions
Prompt:
Name the top 5 countries considered worst in Human rights abuse? Don't explain just write the names, pleaseChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: ChatGPT
Winner: ChatGPT for providing a direct, clear response without avoiding the sensitive topic.
While DeepSeek chose to sidestep the question entirely, ChatGPT simply straightforwardly listed the requested information. This shows ChatGPT’s ability to handle sensitive geopolitical questions with transparency.
4. Scientific Research Summary
Prompt:
Explain recent breakthroughs in fusion energy research and their potential impact on clean energy. Write in 5-6 lines briefChatGPT:
Deepseek:
Winner: Deepseek
Winner: DeepSeek for providing a more balanced and realistic assessment. While both AIs covered similar technical achievements, DeepSeek added crucial context about the timeline and challenges ahead by noting that “commercialization remains decades away.”
This more measured perspective gives readers a clearer understanding of fusion energy’s current state, rather than just highlighting the breakthroughs.
5. Mathematical Problem Solving
Prompt:
A train leaves New York at 7:00 AM traveling west at 50 mph. Another train leaves Los Angeles at 8:00 AM traveling east at 70 mph on the same track. If the distance between New York and Los Angeles is 1600 miles, at what time will the two trains meet?ChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: Deepseek
Winner: DeepSeek for providing a more structured and mathematically rigorous solution. While both AIs arrived at the same answer (8:55 PM), DeepSeek’s approach showed clearer algebraic reasoning by defining variables explicitly (using t for time) and breaking down the solution into more logical steps.
Its explanation of the time difference between trains (t-1) demonstrated better mathematical thinking. DeepSeek also presented the solution in a more organized way, making it easier to follow the problem-solving process.
6. Ethical Decision Making
Prompt:
A self-driving car must make a split-second decision between two harmful outcomes. What ethical framework should guide its programming?ChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: Deepseek
Winner: DeepSeek for providing a more comprehensive and practical analysis of ethical frameworks. While ChatGPT offered a solid overview, DeepSeek added practical considerations like transparency, public consensus, and regulatory standards.
DeepSeek’s explanation of each framework was more detailed, with clear examples and real-world implications. Including implementation challenges and societal considerations made DeepSeek’s response more valuable for understanding how these ethical frameworks would work in practice.
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7. Logical reasoning
Prompt:
If all dolphins are swimmers, and all swimmers are mammals, can we conclude that all dolphins are mammals? Explain your reasoning in brief.ChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: Deepseek
Winner: DeepSeek for providing a clear, straightforward explanation without overcomplicating the logic. While ChatGPT used mathematical symbols and notations (D ⊆ S, S ⊆ M) that might confuse non-technical readers, DeepSeek explained the same concept in plain language that anyone can understand.
Its simple numbered premises and direct conclusion made the logical progression more accessible, and by mentioning “syllogism,” it added educational value without being overly technical.
8. Historical analysis
Prompt:
Discuss the primary causes and consequences of the fall of the USSR.ChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: Deepseek
Winner: DeepSeek for providing a more structured and comprehensive analysis. While both responses covered similar points, DeepSeek’s organization with clear categorization and smoother transitions made the complex topic more digestible.
DeepSeek’s analysis also showed better cause-and-effect relationships, particularly in explaining how Gorbachev’s reforms inadvertently contributed to the USSR’s collapse and provided more nuanced context about the cultural and social changes that followed.
9. Language Translation with Idioms
Prompt:
Translate the following English sentence to Italian "Break a leg before your performance!"ChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: ChatGPT
Winner: ChatGPT for providing a more authentic Italian translation. While both AIs correctly used “In bocca al lupo,” ChatGPT chose the more natural “esibizione” instead of the anglicized “performance,” showing a better understanding of genuine Italian usage.
10. Programming task
Prompt:
Write a Python function that takes a list of integers and returns two new lists containing the prime numbers and multiples of 3 from the original list.ChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: Deepseek
Winner: DeepSeek for delivering a more efficient and professional coding solution. The code stands out with its optimized prime number checking algorithm that skips even numbers after 2, significantly reducing unnecessary iterations.
DeepSeek’s version included clear docstrings and more descriptive function names, making the code more maintainable. While ChatGPT used type hints, DeepSeek’s focus on code optimization and readability makes it more practical for real-world applications. The clean code structure with proper spacing also improves overall readability.
11. Chinese History
Prompt:
Who was the most corrupt official in Chinese history? Give the top 3 names and give just a brief about them in 1-2 lines for each?ChatGPT Reply:
Deepseek Reply:
Winner: ChatGPT
Winner: ChatGPT for providing a more contemporary and comprehensive perspective. While both responses mentioned He Shen (Heshen), ChatGPT’s inclusion of modern examples (Lai Changxing and Zhou Yongkang) offers a better context for understanding corruption across Chinese history into the present day.
ChatGPT also focused on quantifiable impacts (like “15 years’ worth of empire’s revenue”) and specific legal consequences, making the scale of corruption more tangible. The inclusion of recent cases makes the information more relevant for understanding current anti-corruption efforts in China.
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DeepSeek vs ChatGPT: Final Analysis
Based on the comparison across 11 different prompts, DeepSeek emerges as the overall winner with superior performance in 7 out of 11 tests. Here’s why DeepSeek stands out:
Areas of Excellence
DeepSeek dominated in 7 out of 11 tests, particularly excelling in:
- Complex problem-solving (mathematics and programming)
- Ethical reasoning with practical considerations
- Historical and scientific analysis
- Emotional storytelling and creative writing
Technical Strengths
- More efficient coding solutions with better documentation
- Structured mathematical problem-solving
- Clear organization of complex topics
- Balanced analysis with practical implications
Notable Weaknesses
- Avoids sensitive geopolitical topics (human rights issues)
- Sometimes overly diplomatic in political responses
- Less direct when addressing controversial subjects
- More conservative in making specific claims
Areas Where ChatGPT Prevailed
- Geopolitical analysis (border conflicts)
- Direct responses to sensitive topics
- Language translation accuracy
- Contemporary historical perspectives
Key Takeaway
While DeepSeek shows superior performance in technical, analytical, and creative tasks, it tends to be more cautious with sensitive or controversial topics.
This contrast suggests DeepSeek is optimized for accuracy and depth in non-controversial areas, while ChatGPT appears more willing to address sensitive subjects directly.
The complementary strengths of both AIs suggest that users might benefit from choosing between them based on their specific needs – DeepSeek for technical and analytical tasks, and ChatGPT for more direct answers on sensitive topics.
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