Gemal Duncan
Staff Writer/Practicum
Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots have become everyday tools for students and professionals, making research, coding, and even writing assignments easier. But with new players in the game—like DeepSeek—some are starting to wonder: is it better than ChatGPT?
To find out, we talked to two college students and a recent STEM graduate to hear their takes on how these AI models compare in real-world use.
Shelbie Newman, a senior criminal justice major, often uses AI to help with research, case studies, and writing reports. Newman stated that ChatGPT is the better choice for her because it feels more natural.
“It feels more conversational and easy to work with,” said Newman. “If I’m analyzing a case or writing a paper, ChatGPT helps me organize my thoughts in a way that makes sense. DeepSeek, on the other hand, is a little dry. It gives me facts, but it doesn’t really help me piece everything together.”
However, Newman does appreciate DeepSeek for quick, to-the-point research.
“If I need a legal definition or a case reference, DeepSeek usually gives me a straight answer without extra fluff. But when it comes to explaining complex legal concepts, ChatGPT is way better at breaking things down in plain English,” stated Newman.
Christian Houghton, a senior music education major, also agrees that DeepSeek is more direct. He often uses AI to study music theory, plan lessons, and find historical information about composers.
“DeepSeek is more direct, which I actually like,” he explains. “If I ask about a specific composer or a music theory rule, it gives me a straight answer without all the extra wording. ChatGPT is helpful too, but sometimes it over-explains things when I just need the facts.”
That said, Christian turns to ChatGPT when he needs help structuring lesson plans or explaining concepts in a way his future students will understand. “ChatGPT is great at rewording things to make them clearer. If I need a simple way to explain a complex musical concept, it’s my go-to.”
Myaya Morton, a recent electrical engineering graduate, sees value in both models depending on what you need. She switches between them depending on the situation.
“ChatGPT is great for brainstorming, summarizing, and making information digestible,” Morton said. “But DeepSeek is better when I need precise, technical answers—especially for work-related research.”
Morton compares them to two different types of coworkers.
“ChatGPT is like the friendly teammate who helps you think through a problem creatively, while DeepSeek is the straight-to-the-point expert who gives you the facts. Both are useful—it just depends on what you need at the moment.”
So, Which One Wins? It turns out there is no clear winner, just different strengths.
ChatGPT is the go-to for creativity, writing, and explanations, while DeepSeek is better for technical accuracy and straight-to-the-point answers.
All the students and professionals interviewed believe that the best AI depends on what you need. If you’re a writer or love conversational responses, ChatGPT might be your best bet. If you’re tackling complex coding or research, DeepSeek could be the smarter choice.
