DeepSeek AI is the Rise of an Open Source AI

Introduction

We always discuss that artificial intelligence (AI) is growing on a very rapid pace. So far ChatGPT (GPT-4) developed by Open AI was considered to be leading the industry in the field of artificial intelligence. Out of nowhere, recently DeepSeek AI has introduced itself as a big rival of OpenAI.  By launching its latest DeepSeek-V2 model, it has claimed to be better than ChatGPT (GPT-4) in all aspects. Since 2022, OpenAI has dominated the AI; but, for the first time DeepSeek’s open-source approach has attracted global interest including that of researchers, developers, and cybersecurity experts.

In this article we will be discussing DeepSeek’s evolution, examine the capabilities claimed by the developers, and will explore whether it can truly disrupt the AI industry. However, as a mater of fact it must be kept in mind that DeepSeek’s latest model is recently launched, therefore, its real-world performance is yet to be fully tested.

The Origins and Evolution of DeepSeek AI

DeepSeek AI is a China based artificial intelligence research initiative. It is focused on large language models (LLMs) and a unique idea of AI powered coding assistants. This is first of its kind model which helps the coders to generate their desire code.

Chronology of DeepSeek AI Development Phases:

• November 2023 – In November 2023, DeepSeek released it’s 1st DeepSeek Coder model. At that time it relied upon 13 billion parameter model. It was also optimized for coding therefore, it challenged OpenAI’s Codex and GPT-4 Turbo.
• December 2023 – Just after one month, in December 2023, Deepseek launched DeepSeek-LLM. It was the first of its kind which was introduced as completely open source AI model. It was the only large scale AI systems which were freely available for developers at that time.
• January 2024 – After one year, Deepseek has now introduced its DeepSeek-2 Model. As per its creators, DeepSeek-V2 is capable to outreach GPT-4 in its reasoning, NLP, and general AI capabilities.

With its each capabilities, DeepSeek has improved its capabilities. That is why it has positioned itself as a cost-effective and transparent alternative to OpenAI’s proprietary models.

Comparison Between DeepSeek & OpenAI

On one side, open source nature of DeepSeek is being appreciated by the market, but on the other side it is also raising real concerns about potential misuses of AI. Particularly if we talk about cybersecurity and digital forensics this evolution of AI is being debated as a threat.

Effects of DeepSeek AI on Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics

It is an understandable fact that DeepSeek is still in its early stages; therefore, its models are still being tested for its cybersecurity applications.

1. DeepSeek AI can EnPower Cybercrime Investigations

According to the claims which are being made by the developers, DeepSeek’ AI can:

• Assist law enforcement agencies for analysis of phishing emails and detecting patterns of fraud.
• Process large scale cybersecurity threat intelligence much faster than old conventional methods.
• Enhance automated forensics tools which can help in detection of suspected malware.

Note: This is based upon the results shown by the developers; however, real world case studies are still to be evaluated. Because, so far DeepSeek-V2 has not been fully tested in any active cybersecurity environment.

2. Use of DeepSeek

DeepSeek Coder model, which was released in November 2023, has reportedly been successfully tested by the developers in the following scenarios:

• Cyber Security auditors have used it for Penetration testing and security audits.
• Automated vulnerability assessments of software have been carried out.
• Reverse engineering of malicious code has been done using DeepSeek.

After these tests, security experts caution that major loophole which an open source AI platform like DeepSeek may have is that it can be exploited by cybercriminals to automate attacks.

3. Risks of DeepSeek

As experienced in the 2023 WormGPT case, where an illicit AI model was used for cybercrime; cyber security experts question that open-source AI models can be manipulated for malicious purposes. Cyber security experts are raising these concerns about DeepSeek because of its open source nature. Some cybersecurity analysts are warning that its freely available AI will lower the barrier for cybercriminals to launch even more sophisticated cyber attacks.

Can DeepSeek AI Truly Compete with OpenAI?

As claimed by its developers, DeepSeek-V2 has achieved performance which is very much similar to GPT-4. Particularly when we talk about reasoning and natural language processing, DeepSeek has achieved a milestone. However, since its real-world performance is yet to be fully tested; therefore, it is so far unclear whether it can match OpenAI in enterprise adoption and reliability or will just burst as a balloon claim.

Key concerns About DeepSeek:

1. Inhouse Comparison Only – Most of the comparisons between DeepSeek and GPT-4 which are being represented are results of internal tests. There is no independent third party evaluation that is being presented as a comparison results.
2. No Enterprise Level Applications – Unlike OpenAI, so far DeepSeek lacks partnerships with any global tech firms such as Microsoft or Google.
3. Limited Geopolitical Factors – Because of its China based origin, DeepSeek can face restrictions in international adoption, especially in the USA and Europian markets.

Future of DeepSeek AI

Open AI is a closed source AI infrastructe, vis-a-vis, DeepSeek is being considered as an important shift in the AI mindset. Because it has challenged OpenAI’s closed source dominance to an open source AI model. Its open source model has made it stand out for researchers, developers, and cybersecurity professionals. However, I will once again say that its long term success will depend on real world performance, adoption, and security implications.

The AI race between proprietary and open-source models will further grow in future. Therefore, advancement in DeepSeek model is closely being monitored. Only the time will tell that whether DeepSeek can really outreach OpenAI or it’s just a balloon. But one thing is clear that the AI landscape is no longer a monopoly for any single entity.