[sanjams]

So then OP is correct? Your comment confirms the same sentiment about the tradeoff API users make: cheaper inference means you pay with your data.

Sure Deepseek may publish their weights so you dont have to use the API, but the point still stands for the API.

[eldenring]

Its a matter of degree. If 90% of the cost savings are from a new, smarter architecture, it doesn't make sense to point to the API terms as the reason for it being so cheap.