A focused research exercise
For a technical answer, request the version and reference document, then open the relevant publisher documentation. Record chat and API usage separately: they are different contexts.
AI assistant or interface
DeepSeek
Assistant focused on reasoning, programming and technical problem-solving through a web interface.
Service publisher : DeepSeek
What the documentation explains
The readable reference concerns the DeepSeek API, not every chat-interface feature. It establishes neither actual web access in a conversation nor the freshness of an unsourced fact.
DeepSeek · API documentation
Documentation consultation :
Partial reading: limited scope
This consultation covers public documentation, not a service trial with an account. Features, modes and access conditions evolve; check those displayed when you conduct your research.
The decisive check
Recheck recent and technical facts against primary sources before making a decision.
Observe and distinguish the results
- Define the object, period, country and need for a primary source. Record the model or bot, mode and files or connectors used.
- Identify searches actually performed, documents analysed and links associated with each claim. Open the pages rather than judging the answer by its wording.
- Retain discrepancies: inaccessible source, contradictory passage, missing date or unsupported detail. Check the fact with its original issuer.
What to retain
- Exact query or prompt; date, time and time zone.
- Service, mode, model or bot if indicated; language, region and settings.
- Final source URL; title, author, date and relevant passage.
- Claim checked; supporting evidence, contradiction or lack of evidence.
- Accessible scope and files; conditions needed to repeat the observation.
Method questions
Are two agreeing services two pieces of evidence?
Not when they trace back to the same document or reuse the same data. Count independent issuers and evidence, and retain the provenance chain.
Does a citation validate a fact?
The inspected passage must support the precise claim with the correct object, date and scope. A related page or topic mention is insufficient.
How can platforms be compared fairly?
Use the same question, recorded settings and several dated observations. Assess discovery, accuracy, provenance and usefulness separately; one example cannot rank a service.