AI Model Release Tracker - Timeline of Major AI Models from 2022-2026

DeepSeek-LLM vs o4-mini

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-LLM
OpenAI
o4-mini
Overview
CompanyDeepSeekOpenAI
Release dateNov 29 2023Apr 16 2025
AccessOpen WeightProprietary
Benchmarks
Nonsense detection
BullshitBench v2
8%
Timeline
Release gapDeepSeek-LLM shipped 504 days before o4-mini

Which is better: DeepSeek-LLM or o4-mini?

DeepSeek-LLM and o4-mini don't publish scores on any of the same benchmarks, so there's no direct head-to-head comparison. DeepSeek-LLM shipped 504 days before o4-mini, so benchmark comparisons should account for the intervening progress.

DeepSeek-LLM is open weight, while o4-mini is proprietary.

Direct benchmark comparisons are unavailable — DeepSeek-LLM and o4-mini don't publish scores on any of the same benchmarks.

Frequently asked questions

DeepSeek-LLM was released by DeepSeek on Nov 29 2023.

o4-mini was released by OpenAI on Apr 16 2025.

DeepSeek-LLM is an open weight model released by DeepSeek. o4-mini is a proprietary model released by OpenAI.

Other comparisons