DeepSeek is one of the most powerful AI models available. However, it comes with baggage, and I’ve personally experienced how it censors responses. So why do I still use it?
1
No Query Limit
One of the first things that drew me to DeepSeek was the absence of frustrating query limits. If you’ve ever used AI chatbots with daily caps, you know the struggle—you’re in the middle of refining an idea, debugging code, or working on a complex prompt, and suddenly, you’re hit with the “You are out of free messages until 1:00 PM” message.
This is a problem I never have to worry about when using DeepSeek. Unlike other AI tools, DeepSeek doesn’t slap a query limit on its users. For someone who leans on AI for extended brainstorming and research, this is a lifesaver. It enables me to iterate, refine, and experiment without running into a paywall every few conversations.
AI responses often need back-and-forth tweaking to get them just right. Not having to worry about exceeding my query limit makes DeepSeek a strong alternative to other AI chatbots.
2
Free Access to Its Flagship Model (For Now, At Least)
Another reason I keep DeepSeek in my AI toolkit is simple: it’s completely free to use. While some AI tools lock their most advanced features behind paywalls (think: ChatGPT o1), DeepSeek offers its flagship model for free.
I’ve used DeepSeek-R1 for several tasks, and it’s consistently impressed me. What I love most about R1 is it allows me to see the thought process behind whatever response it gives me.
For instance, I recently used it to plan a multi-city travel itinerary. Beyond its responses, I could review the thought process behind them to understand why certain cities were grouped, why it recommended specific modes of transportation in certain cities, etc. It felt like having a travel agent who not only planned the trip but also explained every decision along the way.
Of course, I’m not naive. I know this free access might not last forever. As DeepSeek grows, it could introduce premium tiers or start charging for its flagship model. But for now, it’s a fantastic resource, and I’m making the most of it.
3
Open-Source Accessibility
Most popular AI models like OpenAI’s o1 and Claude 3.5 Sonnet are locked behind proprietary systems. You can’t see their inner workings, tweak them, or run them on your hardware. But that’s not the case with DeepSeek.
DeepSeek has released parts of its codebase and model architecture to the public. This means developers can tinker with it, improve it, or even integrate it into their own projects.
Of course, there’s a catch. While open-source accessibility is great in theory, DeepSeek comes from a country known for strict internet regulations. Even with self-hosting, you’re still relying on a model trained under its censorship policies. And while DeepSeek is open-source, it’s a relatively newer model compared to something like Meta’s Llama models, meaning it hasn’t undergone the same level of scrutiny.
No AI tool is truly private. Whether it’s DeepSeek, ChatGPT, or any other model. That’s why I have decisions I never trust AI to make for me and information I never share with AI chatbots.
DeepSeek’s privacy situation is even murkier than most. It operates under regulations that require companies to comply with government data policies. While there’s no clear evidence that DeepSeek is logging and reporting user data, I’m not taking any chances.
I treat DeepSeek as a brainstorming partner, not a diary. I test prompts, experiment with creative writing, and use it for research—but I don’t feed it passwords, personal details, or confidential work-related information.
5
I’m Used to Taking AI Responses With a Pinch of Salt
DeepSeek’s origins aren’t exactly subtle—it’s a Chinese-developed model with some built-in quirks. If you ask about certain politically sensitive topics, it either tiptoes around the question or refuses to answer entirely. I’ve tested DeepSeek myself, and yeah, when it comes to things like Tiananmen Square or Chinese government policies, the censorship is glaring.
But honestly? That doesn’t surprise me. Every AI model has its own set of weird limitations. ChatGPT sometimes refuses harmless questions in the name of “safety,” Claude can be overly cautious to the point of being unusable, and even supposedly open-weight models from Meta have restrictions baked in. No AI tool is truly neutral—they all reflect the rules and biases of whoever built them.
Ultimately, I already approach AI tools with skepticism. I fact-check, compare outputs, and don’t expect any model to be a perfect source of truth. DeepSeek’s censorship is just another quirk to work around, not a dealbreaker.
DeepSeek isn’t perfect. Its censorship issues are noticeable, and its origins raise valid concerns. However, for my use case, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The lack of query limits, free access to its flagship model, and open-source availability make it a powerful tool, especially when I already take all AI responses with a critical eye.
