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How to Get Started with Deepseek: A Beginner's Guide

BeginnerGuided Project

Explore the capabilities of DeepSeek R1, an open-source AI model with advanced reasoning that rivals top LLMs like OpenAI’s o1 and o3. This hands-on project is perfect for developers and beginners, covering how to fine-tune parameters, handle streaming responses, and make structured API calls for better AI-powered outputs across various tasks. Learn to generate text, retrieve code snippets, and process real-time outputs with clear step-by-step instructions. Whether you’re integrating LLMs into apps or optimizing workflows, this guide makes working with DeepSeek simple and effective.

4.5 (12 Reviews)

Language

  • English

Topic

  • Artificial Intelligence

Skills You Will Learn

  • Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Python, LLM, DeepSeek

Offered By

  • IBMSkillsNetwork

Estimated Effort

  • 30 minutes

Platform

  • SkillsNetwork

Last Update

  • June 5, 2025
About this Guided Project
The emergence of DeepSeek has sent ripples through the global AI community. DeepSeek R1 is a powerful open-source language model that rivals leading proprietary LLMs while remaining freely accessible. Its open framework empowers developers, researchers, and businesses to innovate in automation, content generation, and AI applications without restrictive costs.

Unlike AI models that require paid subscriptions or have restricted usage rights, DeepSeek R1 offers full transparency, allowing users to modify and adapt it for greater control, customization, and scalability. As a reasoning model, it provides step-by-step explanations for complex queries, making it highly effective for coding, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Positioned as an alternative to OpenAI’s o1 and o3, DeepSeek R1 delivers comparable or superior performance in key areas, combining open accessibility with advanced reasoning capabilities.


Why This Topic Is Important

Using open-source LLMs like DeepSeek R1 is valuable for developers and AI enthusiasts. Gaining hands-on experience with this technology makes it possible to integrate advanced AI capabilities into a variety of applications, from natural language processing to automated content generation. This project provides a structured approach to working with DeepSeek R1, helping build proficiency in modern AI toolsets.

A Look at the Project Ahead

  • Learn how to set up and authenticate with the DeepSeek R1 API using Together.ai, ensuring secure and efficient access to the model's capabilities.
  • Explore parameter tuning to customize the model's responses, tailoring its output to specific tasks and requirements.

What You'll Need

Before starting this project, ensure you have:
  • Technical Requirements: A basic understanding of Python programming, including familiarity with libraries such as os for environment variable management.
  • Browser Setup: A web browser for accessing tools and running code.
By the end of this project, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively implement DeepSeek R1 in your applications, opening doors to innovative AI-driven solutions.

Instructors

Karan Goswami

Data Scientist

I am a dedicated Data Scientist and an AI enthusiast, currently working at IBM's Skills Builder Network. Learning how some simple mathematical operations could be used to make predictions and discover patterns sparked my curiosity, leading me to explore the exciting world of AI. Over the years, I’ve gained hands-on experience in building scalable AI solutions, fine-tuning models, and extracting meaningful insights from complex datasets. I'm driven by a desire to apply these skills to solve real-world problems and make a meaningful impact through AI.

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Contributors

Kunal Makwana

Data Scientist

I’m a passionate Data Scientist and AI enthusiast, currently working at IBM on innovative projects in Generative AI and machine learning. My journey began with a deep interest in mathematics and coding, which inspired me to explore how data can solve real-world problems. Over the years, I’ve gained hands-on experience in building scalable AI solutions, fine-tuning models, and leveraging cloud technologies to extract meaningful insights from complex datasets.

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