DeepSeek AI Models Raise Concerns, Perplexity and You.com Offer Solutions
Chinese startup DeepSeek AI and its open-source language models have been making headlines, but concerns about data privacy, security, and Chinese-government-enforced censorship have been raised.
Perplexity Offers DeepSeek R1 with Enhanced Security
Perplexity, an AI search platform, has announced that it now hosts DeepSeek R1, an open-source language model. The company offers a free plan with three Pro-level queries per day, which can be upgraded to a $20 per month Pro plan for unlimited queries. Perplexity assures users that their data will be safe, as the models are hosted in US/EU data centers, and none of the data leaves Western servers.
You.com Offers DeepSeek R1 with Customization Options
You.com, an AI assistant, offers both V3 and R1 models, which can be accessed via browser or app. The company claims to have removed at least some of the censorship built into the model, but users who download R1 and run it locally on their devices will still encounter censorship of certain topics determined by the Chinese government.
Perplexity’s Approach to Censorship
When asked about Tiananmen Square, Perplexity’s DeepSeek R1 refused to answer, citing its writing mode and lack of access to sources that would provide uncensored information. However, when asked if the model is trained not to answer certain questions determined by the Chinese government, it responded that it is designed to focus on factual information and avoid political commentary.
You.com’s Approach to Censorship
You.com’s cofounder and CTO, Bryan McCann, explained that users can access R1 and V3 models via the platform in three ways, all of which use an unmodified, open-source version of the DeepSeek models hosted entirely within the United States to ensure user privacy. McCann noted that You.com compared DeepSeek models’ responses based on whether they had access to web sources, and found that the models’ responses differed on several political topics when public web sources were not included.
Conclusion
The concerns surrounding DeepSeek AI models have raised questions about data privacy, security, and censorship. Perplexity and You.com have offered solutions by hosting the models in Western data centers and providing customization options to users. While the models have raised concerns, they also offer unique capabilities and potential for innovation.
FAQs
Q: Is Perplexity’s DeepSeek R1 available for free?
A: Yes, Perplexity offers a free plan with three Pro-level queries per day, which can be upgraded to a $20 per month Pro plan for unlimited queries.
Q: Does You.com offer a free plan?
A: No, You.com’s Pro tier is $15 per month, discounted from the usual $20, and offers access to all models, including DeepSeek R1 and V3.
Q: Are Perplexity’s DeepSeek models hosted in China?
A: No, Perplexity assures users that their data will be safe, as the models are hosted in US/EU data centers, and none of the data leaves Western servers.
Q: Can users customize You.com’s DeepSeek models?
A: Yes, You.com offers customization options, including the ability to turn off access to public web sources and add own instructions, files, and sources.
Q: Are DeepSeek AI models available for developers?
A: Yes, DeepSeek R1 is now available on platforms including Azure and Github, AWS, and Nvidia.
