How to run DeepSeek AI locally for enhanced privacy

In 2024, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek emerged as a significant player in the AI landscape, developing powerful open-source large language models (LLMs) at significantly lower costs than its US competitors. The company has released various specialized models for programming, general-purpose use, and computer vision tasks.

Background and Significance: DeepSeek represents a notable shift in the AI industry by making advanced language models accessible through open-source distribution and cost-effective development methods.

• The company’s models have demonstrated performance comparable to or exceeding that of other leading AI models
• DeepSeek’s conversational style is notably unique, often engaging in self-dialogue while providing information to users
• The platform offers various model sizes, ranging from 1.5B to 70B parameters, catering to different computational capabilities and use cases

Local Installation Options: Users can deploy DeepSeek locally through two primary methods, ensuring privacy and direct control over their AI interactions.

• Msty integration offers a user-friendly graphical interface for accessing DeepSeek
• Command-line installation through Ollama provides more advanced control and access to different model versions
• Both methods are available for Linux, MacOS, and Windows operating systems at no cost

System Requirements and Technical Specifications: Running DeepSeek locally demands substantial computational resources to ensure optimal performance.

• Minimum requirements include a 12-core processor and 16GB RAM (32GB recommended)
• NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support is recommended but not mandatory
• NVMe storage is suggested for improved performance
• Ubuntu or Ubuntu-based Linux distributions are required for command-line installation

Implementation Steps: The installation process varies depending on the chosen method.

• Msty users can access DeepSeek through the Local AI Models section and download the R1 model
• Command-line installation requires Ollama, which can be installed with a single curl command
• Multiple model versions are available through Ollama, ranging from the lightweight 1.5B to the comprehensive 70B version

Looking Forward: DeepSeek’s approach to accessible, locally-deployable AI models could reshape the landscape of personal AI usage, though questions remain about the long-term implications for data privacy and computational resource requirements in home and small business environments.