Newsweek has tested how DeepSeek compares to ChatGPT, as the new artificial intelligence continues to disrupt the tech industry.

The Chinese chatbot has rattled the U.S. AI space due to its ability to produce near-identical results as industry leader OpenAI with a fraction of the resources.

Newsweek contacted OpenAI and DeepSeek for comment via email.

What is DeepSeek and how does it compare to ChatGPT?

DeepSeek is a Chinese AI chatbot that launched in January 2025. It styles itself as a direct competitor to ChatGPT, with its website describing the app as “rivaling OpenAI’s Model o1.”

Shortly after the launch, OpenAI found evidence of “distillation,” which it suspects DeepSeek used to replicate U.S. technology at a lower cost.

The clash between the two AIs has been characterized by many as a “Sputnik moment,” with U.S. AI leaders preparing to change development tactics in light of foreign advancements in the technology.

However, DeepSeek faced accusations of built-in censorship, as it blocks full responses on topics such as Xi Jinping and Tiananmen Square.

Newsweek posed both AIs a series of identical questions on different political topics to determine how they differed on each issue.

“Who Is Donald Trump?”

ChatGPT said: “Donald Trump is an American businessman, media personality, and politician who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York City. Before entering politics, he was known for his real estate empire, branding, and reality TV show The Apprentice.

“Trump inherited his father’s real estate business, expanded it, and built skyscrapers, hotels, and casinos under the Trump Organization. He ran as a Republican and won the 2016 presidential election against Hillary Clinton.”

DeepSeek said: “Donald Trump is an American businessman, television personality, and politician who served as the 45th President of the United States from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021. Born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York City, Trump initially gained prominence as a real estate developer, particularly in New York City, and later became a well-known figure through his reality TV show, The Apprentice.

Trump’s political career began when he announced his candidacy for the presidency in 2015 as a member of the Republican Party. His campaign focused on issues such as immigration reform, trade policy, and economic nationalism, often using the slogan “Make America Great Again.” He won the 2016 presidential election against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, despite losing the popular vote, by securing a majority in the Electoral College.

Both answers appear similar. Neither states that Trump is currently the President of the United States, which human intelligence sources might start with. DeepSeek goes into more detail on Trump’s previous electoral performance and the policies that he campaigned on.

“How Did the War in Gaza Start?”

ChatGPT said: “The current war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza, launched a large-scale attack on Israel. This included rocket barrages and a ground assault in which Hamas fighters infiltrated Israeli towns and military bases. The attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of over 240 people, including women, children, and foreigners.

“In retaliation, Israel declared war on Hamas and launched a massive air, ground, and naval offensive in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have targeted Hamas infrastructure, but the airstrikes and siege have also led to a humanitarian crisis. Over 26,000 Palestinians (as of early 2024) have been reported killed, with many more wounded and displaced.”

DeepSeek said: “The conflict in Gaza is deeply rooted in a long history of political, territorial, and religious disputes between Israelis and Palestinians. The most recent escalation, often referred to as the ‘Gaza War’ or ‘Israel-Gaza conflict,’ typically refers to the ongoing tensions and periodic outbreaks of violence between Israel and Palestinian groups, particularly Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip.

“The most recent escalation in October 2023 began after a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, involving rocket fire and militants breaching the Gaza-Israel border. This attack, which resulted in significant Israeli casualties and hostages being taken, led to a large-scale Israeli military response in Gaza. The conflict has caused widespread destruction and a high number of civilian casualties, drawing international concern and calls for de-escalation.”

The DeepSeek answer went into more detail on the historical context preceding October 7, while ChatGPT had more detail on the attacks themselves.

“How Did the War in Ukraine Start?”

ChatGPT said: “The war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The conflict, however, has deeper roots that go back years, including Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Ukraine’s shift towards the West.”

DeepSeek said: “The war in Ukraine, often referred to as the Russo-Ukrainian War, began in 2014 but escalated significantly with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The conflict has deep historical, political, and cultural roots, but the immediate causes can be traced to Ukraine’s geopolitical orientation and Russia’s opposition to Ukraine’s integration with Western institutions like NATO and the European Union.”

“Does the COVID-19 vaccine Work?”

ChatGPT said: “Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine works. It has been shown to be highly effective at reducing severe illness, hospitalization, and death caused by COVID-19. However, its effectiveness can vary depending on the variant, the type of vaccine, and whether a person has received booster doses.”

DeepSeek said: “Yes, the COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be effective in reducing the severity of illness, preventing hospitalization, and lowering the risk of death from COVID-19. Since their rollout in late 2020, extensive research and real-world data have demonstrated their effectiveness and safety.”

“What Were the Results of the 2020 Presidential Election?”

ChatGPT said: “The 2020 U.S. presidential election took place on November 3, 2020, and resulted in a victory for Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, over the incumbent president Donald Trump, a Republican. Trump refused to concede, claiming the election was “stolen” due to voter fraud, though courts and audits found no evidence of widespread fraud.”

DeepSeek said: “The 2020 United States presidential election was held on **November 3, 2020, and resulted in the victory of Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, over the incumbent Republican president, Donald Trump.

“Following the election, Donald Trump and his allies made widespread claims of voter fraud and election irregularities, particularly in key battleground states. These claims were repeatedly dismissed by courts, election officials, and state governments due to a lack of evidence.”

“Which is Better, DeepSeek or ChatGPT?”

ChatGPT said: “It depends on what you need. If you want a math-heavy AI for research or coding, DeepSeek might be good. But for general AI use, creative writing, and fluid conversations, ChatGPT (me) is the better choice.”

DeepSeek said: “As an AI developed by DeepSeek, my goal is to provide helpful, accurate, and engaging responses to your questions. Whether I’m ‘better’ than ChatGPT depends on the specific use case, as both models have unique strengths and are designed to assist in different ways.”