ChatGPT vs. DeepSeek – a First Comparison

The tech and business sectors are all in an uproar over DeepSeek, the Chinese challenger to ChatGPT. The stock in NVIDIA, a chipmaker, fell overnight by the largest number in stock market history, namely 600 billion dollars.

I was curious, as I suppose you all are, so I did a quick and dirty test: I posed the same question to both AI bots about one of my favorite subjects – Roman history. Here are the results.

„Which Roman Emperor would you compare Trump to and why?„

Here is the answer from ChatGPT:

If I had to compare Donald Trump to a Roman emperor, the closest match would likely be Emperor Nero or Emperor Commodus, though with some elements of Emperor Caligula. Here’s why:

1. Nero (54–68 AD) – The Populist Showman

• Nero was a showman, more interested in performing and entertaining the public than governing effectively. He sang, acted, and competed in chariot races, much like Trump, who thrives on media spectacle.
• He was polarizing—loved by the masses (for his public games and populist policies) but despised by the Roman elite. Trump similarly enjoys strong loyalty from his base while being intensely opposed by political insiders.
• He blamed others for failures—famously accusing Christians of starting the Great Fire of Rome, while Trump often shifts blame onto political opponents, the media, or external forces.

1. Commodus (180–192 AD) – The Nepotistic Celebrity

• Commodus saw himself as a living legend, comparing himself to Hercules and participating in gladiatorial fights. Trump, likewise, presents himself as a larger-than-life figure, branding everything with his name and cultivating a strongman persona.
• His rule was marked by corruption, cronyism, and erratic decision-making, similar to accusations against Trump’s administration regarding nepotism and controversial policies.
• Commodus’ governance was chaotic and scandal-ridden, much like Trump’s presidency, which was full of dramatic political fights, impeachments, and controversy.

1. Caligula (37–41 AD) – The Shock Factor & The Cult of Personality

• Caligula was known for his outrageous statements and disregard for political norms—just as Trump’s rhetoric often shocked both allies and opponents.
• He valued loyalty above all and purged those he suspected of disloyalty, akin to Trump’s firings of officials who disagreed with him.
• Caligula’s unpredictable behavior led to instability, just as Trump’s unorthodox leadership style led to political turbulence.

Final Verdict

If we’re talking media spectacle and populism, Nero fits best. If it’s ego-driven rule and chaotic decision-making, Commodus is the closest. If we focus on provocation and norm-breaking, then Caligula is a strong comparison.

Of course, Trump is a modern politician, not an emperor, so the comparison isn’t perfect—but the themes of showmanship, populism, and unpredictability make these emperors fitting analogs.

And here is Deepseek’s version:

Comparing historical figures to contemporary leaders can be both intriguing and challenging, as the contexts in which they operated are vastly different. However, if one were to draw a parallel between Donald Trump and a Roman emperor, some might suggest Emperor Nero or Emperor Caligula, though these comparisons are often made more for their controversial and polarizing reputations than for direct historical equivalency.

1. Nero: Nero is often remembered for his extravagance, self-centeredness, and the Great Fire of Rome, which some historians speculate he may have exploited for his own gain. Similarly, Trump’s flamboyant personality, focus on self-promotion, and controversial policies have drawn comparisons to Nero’s rule. Both figures were known for their ability to captivate and divide public opinion.

2. Caligula: Caligula is infamous for his erratic behavior, authoritarian tendencies, and disregard for traditional norms. Some critics of Trump have drawn parallels to Caligula’s unpredictable leadership style and his willingness to challenge established institutions.

That said, such comparisons are highly subjective and often oversimplify both the historical figures and the modern leader. Roman emperors ruled in a vastly different political and cultural context, and their actions were shaped by the realities of their time. Trump’s presidency, while polarizing, occurred within the framework of a modern democratic system, which limits direct comparisons to autocratic rulers of antiquity.

Ultimately, historical analogies should be approached with caution, as they can easily distort the complexities of both past and present.

While both answers are historically correct, ChatGPT’s answer was longer and more detailed, about 2,000 words. DeepSeek is shorter and conciser, namely about 1,600 words. Besides, ChatGPT drew parallels to three Roman Emperors, while DeepSeek only listed two.

Both answers were linguistically and syntactically correct, and their gists were comparable: Nero’s narcistic tendencies corresponds with Trump’s, and both mention the Great Fore of Rome and his tendency to shift blame onto others and his habit of shifting blame. Caligula is stated as being famous for his erratic behavior and his disregard for political norms, both of which are the hallmarks of Trump both as a businessman and President.

Both sum up their findings, warning about making comparisons between historical figures and present-day politicians. ChatGPT’s summary uses more colloquial language – „media spectacle“, „ego-driven rule“, „chaotic decision-making“, while DeepSeek’s language is more conservative and polarizing: „shaped by the realities of their time“.

In the end, I would still go with ChatGPT because its answer is more satisfying from the perspective of a (semi-) professional historian like me who has been following and commenting on  Roman history for more than 60 years now and learned Latin in school. But if you’re looking for a quick answer that fits the facts and provides enough overall context for the casual reader, DeepSeek is the way to go.

Fazit: While ChatGPT gives you more bang for your buck, DeekSeek is good enough for pedestrian use. In future, I will try to alternate between the two and see if I can discover more deep-seated differences. My suspicion is that DeepSeek, being based in a totalitarian country, will tend to pull its punches and provide a less controversial view of the world than ChatGPT, which is, after all, protected by the First Ammendment in the US. However, it remains to be seen whether they will continue to do so given the new Trump administration and its crude attempts to shape the public discourse and steer it in a more conservative and autocratic direction — kind of like Nero fiddling while Rome burned.

Of course, neither ChatGPT nor DeepSeek are really about artificial intelligence. They are simply souped-up search engines. But as such, they definately have a place to play in both business and private use. It remains to be seen how such international competition will fuel the over-hyped AI industry. Stay tuned!