Is ChatGPT worth it? A Comparative Look at AI Models

By Nicolas Martin, Senior Full Stack Data Scientist, 11/02/2025.

The rapid evolution of AI language models has sparked a debate about which model is truly worth investing in. With options like ChatGPT, Grok, DeepSeek, Qwen, Le Chat, and Tulu3, each offering unique strengths, the decision isn’t straightforward. Let’s break down the comparison and explore how lightweight models like DeepSeek-Distill-Qwen, and Phi3 Mini Instruct are shaping the future of AI on smaller devices.

Comparative table done with Grok (based on Internet sources - see references).

Notes on Scoring:

Code: Scores reflect capabilities in code generation, debugging, and understanding. DeepSeek leads due to its reported high performance in coding benchmarks like LiveCodeBench.
Reasoning: DeepSeek-R1's focus on reasoning through reinforcement learning gives it a slight edge over others, particularly in complex problem-solving scenarios.
NLU (Natural Language Understanding): ChatGPT and Le Chat show strong performance due to their extensive training on diverse text corpora, leading to nuanced language comprehension.
Multi-Modal Capabilities: ChatGPT slightly edges out others due to its well-documented capabilities across text, voice, and vision processing. However, all models are somewhat behind in this area compared to their NLU strengths.
Creativity: ChatGPT is noted for its ability in creative tasks like storytelling and content generation, scoring highly due to its coherence and narrative capabilities.
Ethical Alignment: Grok and Qwen are rated slightly higher for their emphasis on ethical considerations, although all models have room for improvement in this area, with ongoing debates about AI ethics and bias.

These scores are synthesized from qualitative assessments and various benchmarks mentioned in the web results. However, please note:

The exact scoring might not be explicitly detailed in the sources, so these are interpreted based on comparative performance discussions.
The field of AI is rapidly evolving, and these scores might not reflect real-time updates or the very latest developments beyond the date of the documents cited.
Ethical alignment is particularly complex to quantify, so these scores are more subjective and based on reported focuses or criticisms in the literature.

The Heavyweights: ChatGPT vs. Grok vs. DeepSeek

ChatGPT remains a dominant player, excelling in creativity, reasoning, and natural language understanding (NLU). Its scores (Creativity: 19, Reasoning: 19, NLU: 19) reflect its versatility, making it a go-to for tasks requiring nuanced communication and problem-solving. However, Grok and DeepSeek are close competitors. Grok matches ChatGPT in creativity and reasoning but lags slightly in multi-modal capabilities. DeepSeek, on the other hand, outperforms ChatGPT in reasoning (20) and code-related tasks (19), making it a strong contender for technical applications.

Lightweight Models: The Future of AI on Smaller Devices

While heavyweights like ChatGPT dominate the conversation, lightweight models such as DeepSeek Distill, Qwen, and Phi3 Mini Instruct are quietly revolutionizing AI accessibility. These models are designed to run efficiently on smaller devices, including smartphones, robots, and IoT devices. For instance, Qwen, though less powerful in multi-modal tasks (15) and creativity (16), is optimized for resource-constrained environments. Similarly, Phi3 Mini Instruct offers a balance of performance and efficiency, enabling advanced AI capabilities on devices with limited processing power.

The implications are profound. Imagine smartphones that can run advanced AI assistants locally, ensuring privacy and reducing latency. Robots equipped with lightweight models can perform complex tasks without relying on cloud-based systems, making them more autonomous and responsive. This shift will democratize AI, bringing its benefits to industries like healthcare, education, and manufacturing.

Ethical Alignment and Innovation

Ethical alignment is a critical factor in AI adoption. ChatGPT scores 17 in this category, while Grok and DeepSeek score 18 and 16, respectively. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, ensuring ethical behavior will be paramount. Lightweight models must also prioritize ethical alignment, especially as they become embedded in sensitive applications like personal assistants and medical devices.

A Vision of the Future

The future of AI is not just about bigger and better models but also about smarter, more efficient ones. Lightweight models will drive innovation by enabling AI on devices we use every day. This will lead to significant improvements in productivity, creativity, and decision-making. For instance, a smartphone with a local AI assistant could help users manage their schedules, draft emails, and even provide real-time language translation—all without an internet connection.

In conclusion, while ChatGPT remains a powerful and versatile tool, the rise of lightweight models like DeepSeek Distill and Phi3 Mini Instruct signals a shift toward more accessible and efficient AI. As these technologies mature, they will unlock new possibilities, transforming how we work, live, and interact with the world around us. The question isn’t just “Is ChatGPT worth it?” but rather “Which AI model best fits your needs—and the future you envision?”

Links:
https://www.datacamp.com/blog/deepseek-vs-chatgpt

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/01/deepseek-chatgpt-grok-gemini-claude-meta-ai-which-is-the-best-ai-assistant-we-put-them-to-the-test

https://simonw.substack.com/p/the-deepseek-r1-family-of-reasoning

https://huggingface.co/blog/wolfram/llm-comparison-test-2025-01-02
ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/

DeepSeek: https://chat.deepseek.com/

Qwen: https://chat.qwenlm.ai/
Tülu3: https://playground.allenai.org/

Le Chat (Mistral): https://chat.mistral.ai/chat
Grok: https://x.com/i/grok

DeepSeek models: https://huggingface.co/collections/deepseek-ai/deepseek-r1-678e1e131c0169c0bc89728d

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