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Choosing between hosted AI models

← Learning Atlas · Path 3 of 22

6 ordered steps, from OpenAI to DeepSeek.

AI providers and models

  1. Step 1: OpenAI

    Start with a familiar hosted provider so the learner can anchor the rest of the model vocabulary to a real API ecosystem.

  2. Step 2: GPT (model family)

    After the provider, the model family explains what kind of engine the application is actually selecting.

  3. Step 3: Chat model

    Chat models are the baseline interaction pattern, so they set expectations for ordinary assistant-style request and response work.

  4. Step 4: Reasoning model

    Reasoning models matter after chat models because they change the tradeoff from fast conversation toward deeper multi-step problem solving.

  5. Step 5: DeepSeek-R1

    DeepSeek-R1 makes the reasoning-model idea concrete with an example learners may encounter when comparing cost and capability.

  6. Step 6: DeepSeek

    Ending on the provider helps separate a specific reasoning model from the broader organization and model ecosystem behind it.