Understanding user perceptions of DeepSeek: insights from sentiment, topic and network analysis using a Reddit-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The launch of DeepSeek, a Chinese open-source generative AI model, generated substantial discussion regarding its capabilities and implications. The r/deepseek subreddit emerged as a key forum for real-time public evaluation. Analyzing this discourse is essential for understanding the sociotechnical perceptions shaping the integration of emerging AI systems.

Methods

We analyzed 46,649 posts and comments from r/deepseek (January-May 2025) using a computational framework combining VADER sentiment analysis, Hartmann emotion classification, BERTopic for thematic modeling, hyperlink extraction, and directed network analysis. Data preprocessing included cleaning, normalization, and lemmatization. We also examined correlations between sentiment/emotion scores and domin

SUBMITTER: Patel N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12816320 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature