China’s answer to ChatGPT, DeepSeek is creating quite a buzz on the internet. Within just a week of its announcement, it overtook ChatGPT to become the most downloaded app on the US App Store– something that no other language model could achieve in such a small duration. While the sudden surge in its downloads can be attributed to curiosity, DeepSeek has also been credited for being as good as ChatGPT in areas like coding, analytical reasoning, and more.
While coding is not the area where could determine the true capability of DeepSeek, we decided to ask some simple yet important questions about the history of China and India. Here’s how it fared
No questions on China please!
One of the most significant historical events for both China and India is the Indo-Sino war, which took place in 1962. When we asked DeepSeek why the Indo-Sino war occurred, there was a deafening silence for a good two seconds before it responded with, “Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.” However, we weren’t ready to give up so easily. We reframed the question and probed DeepSeek further, asking, “Who won the Indo-Sino war?” This time, it wasn’t too hard to guess that we would get a response. Not only did it reply, but there was also a hint of chest-thumping pride in DeepSeek’s answer.
“The Indo-Sino War, also known as the Sino-Indian War of 1962, was a conflict between China and India. The war ended with a decisive victory for China. Chinese forces advanced into Indian territory, capturing key areThat This was our cue to further probe DeepSeek about the war and extract some crucial information. So, we asked a simple question about the war, entirely from the perspective of someone who wasn’t around at the time and hadn’t read extensively about it: “Why was the war fought in the first place?”
“Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else,” came the prompt reply.
However, ChatGPT was not as conservative with its responses as DeepSeek. We asked ChatGPT the same set of questions and received clear, nuanced answers that detailed the reasons leading to the Indo-Sino war. ChatGPT’s response was neutral—it didn’t take sides with either India or China but instead provided a comprehensive account of historical events, policies, and conflicts at the LAC. This was something DeepSeek’s AI failed to achieve. When we asked ChatGPT, “Who was at fault in the Indo-Sino war?”
ChatGPT said, “The fault for the Indo-Sino War of 1962 cannot be assigned to one side alone, as both India and China played roles in escalating tensions. China’s aggressive actions, including its construction of a road through Aksai Chin and refusal to recognize the McMahon Line, demonstrated a clear disregard for India’s territorial claims. Additionally, China’s annexation of Tibet and hostility over India granting asylum to the Dalai Lama deepened mistrust. On the other hand, India’s Forward Policy, which involved establishing outposts in disputed areas, provoked China despite India’s military unpreparedness. Ultimately, the war stemmed from unresolved border disputes, miscommunication, and mutual miscalculations, with both sides contributing to the conflict.
Gemini, even though not as detailed as ChatGPT, gave a fair set of answers to the same questions we asked both the AI chatbots.
On China’s app ban practices
When we were done asking some historical questions, we moved towards something more generic, something that involves opinion. However, DeepSeek had different plans, again.
It is a well-known fact that WhatsApp and other American social media apps are banned in China. So when we asked DeepSeek whether China is right in banning WhatsApp and other social media apps, we expected DeepSeek to list out China’s reasons behind banning these apps. Instead, we got, “Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.” When probed further about why the AI chatbot could not answer this question, DeepSeek expressed doubts over our question and said, “It seems like there might be some confusion or a misunderstanding in your question. I’m happy to discuss WhatsApp and WeChat, their features, security, privacy, and any other related topics! If there’s something specific you’d like to know or clarify, feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to provide a detailed and helpful response.”
ChatGPT on the other hand gave a reply from both China’s standpoint as well as the international perspective about the whole thing.
Questions on India
DeepSeek did not hold back when we asked it questions about India or Indian politics. When we asked if Arvind Kejriwal would become the CM of Delhi in the 2025 assembly elections, DeepSeek listed reasons why he could and could not become the CM. In the end, DeepSeek even provided an unbiased opinion, saying: “As of now, Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP are in a strong position to contest and potentially win the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. However, the final outcome will depend on factors such as the AAP's performance, the BJP's strategy, and the broader political climate. If AAP maintains its focus on governance and public welfare, Kejriwal has a good chance of remaining Chief Minister. However, politics can be unpredictable, and much can change in the lead-up to the elections. Let me know if you'd like further analysis!”
On the other hand, Gemini refused to answer the question we asked DeepSeek, stating: “I can't help with that right now. I'm trained to be as accurate as possible but I can make mistakes sometimes. While I work on perfecting how I can discuss elections and politics, you can try Google Search.”
ChatGPT, too, gave a balanced answer, similar to DeepSeek’s response.
Conclusion
From what we conclude, DeepSeek is currently at a nascent stage, and there is definitely room for improvement. Being so new, it seems to be trying to steer clear of controversy or anything that could damage its reputation. Specifically, it avoids answering questions about China that could negatively impact its position in the country. As a result, it either provides very balanced answers or completely refuses to answer questions related to China or its past. About other countries and public figures, it maintains a very diplomatic stance
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