MarTech Solutions from Touchpointe Digital

DeepSeek LLM: A Powerful AI Model & How to Use It Locally for Maximum Privacy

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly evolving, and DeepSeek LLM is one of the latest open-source models making waves in the AI community. Whether you’re a developer, researcher, or AI enthusiast, this large language model (LLM) offers robust capabilities for coding, content generation, and more.

But here’s a crucial question: should you use DeepSeek online or install it locally? While both options are available, running it locally on your Mac or PC ensures greater data privacy and security—something many AI users are now prioritizing.

This blog will cover:

  • What is DeepSeek LLM?
  • Why should you install it locally instead of using the online model?
  • How to install DeepSeek LLM on Mac and Windows
  • How to use the online version (if you prefer it)

Let’s dive in.

What is DeepSeek LLM?

DeepSeek LLM is an advanced AI language model developed by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company. It’s designed for natural language processing, problem-solving, and software development, competing with other popular AI models like GPT-4 and Llama 2.

Some standout features of DeepSeek:

✅ Advanced reasoning: Handles logical inference, mathematics, and problem-solving efficiently.
✅ Open-source: Developers can access, modify, and improve the model.
✅ Cost-effective: Provides high-performance AI capabilities at a lower cost than proprietary models.

Now, the big decision—should you run it online or locally?

Why Should You Install DeepSeek Locally Instead of Using the Online Model?

1. Maximum Data Privacy

When using any online AI model, your input data is sent to remote servers, where it gets processed. If you’re handling sensitive data—like client information, financial data, or personal projects—this poses a security risk.

With local installation, your data stays entirely on your machine—no cloud processing, no third-party access.

2. No Internet Dependency

Using AI online requires a constant internet connection. A local installation allows you to run DeepSeek even when offline, making it ideal for developers, researchers, or professionals working in restricted environments.

3. Avoid AI Usage Limits & Subscription Costs

Many online AI models impose daily limits, require subscriptions, or throttle requests. When you install DeepSeek locally, you’re not dependent on a company’s pricing changes, server downtimes, or data caps.

4. Customization & Control

With a local installation, you can:

  • Modify the model to suit specific needs.
  • Train it with your own datasets.
  • Use it with third-party AI tools locally.

Now that you’re convinced of the benefits of local installation, let’s set it up on your computer.

How to Install DeepSeek LLM Locally (Mac & Windows)

To run DeepSeek locally, we’ll use Ollama, a tool that simplifies running AI models on personal machines.

Step 1: Install Ollama

Ollama is required to run large language models like DeepSeek.

On macOS:

  • Open Terminal.
  • If you don’t have Homebrew, install it:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Install Ollama:

brew install ollama

On Windows:

  1. Download the Ollama installer from official website.
  2. Run the installer and follow the setup instructions.

Step 2: Download the DeepSeek Model

Once Ollama is installed, pull the DeepSeek model:

ollama pull deepseek-llm

This will download DeepSeek LLM to your computer.

Step 3: Run DeepSeek Locally

Once the model is downloaded, you can start using DeepSeek with this command:

ollama run deepseek-llm

DeepSeek will now be ready to generate responses directly on your machine—completely private and secure.

How to Use the Online DeepSeek Model

If you still prefer the online version, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the official DeepSeek website: DeepSeek.com
  2. Click on “Start Now” to access the web-based chat interface.
  3. Enter your prompts and get AI-generated responses.

The online model is useful for quick AI interactions, but if privacy and control matter to you, local installation is the way to go.

Final Thoughts: Should You Use DeepSeek Locally or Online?

Feature Local Installation Online Model
Privacy & Security ✅ 100% Private ❌ Data goes to cloud
Offline Usage ✅ Yes ❌ No
Customization ✅ Full control ❌ Limited
Performance ✅ Faster after setup ❌ Dependent on server
Costs & Limits ✅ Free (after download) ❌ May have usage limits

If you want a secure, private, and flexible AI assistant, installing DeepSeek locally is the best choice. But if you prefer quick and easy access, the online model works too.

Either way, DeepSeek is a powerful AI tool worth trying.

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