Architecture of DeepSeek-R1
Learn how DeepSeek-R1 uses multi-stage RL and curated chain-of-thought data to produce more transparent, powerful reasoning in large language models.
In the rapidly evolving field of AI, one major challenge is getting large language models to explain how they arrive at solutions, rather than just spitting out an end result. Without any built‑in reasoning process, models tend to provide final answers—right or wrong—without revealing the logic behind them. That’s a big limitation for users who want to trust and verify a model’s results, especially in high‑stakes scenarios like coding, math, or policy decisions. DeepSeek-R1 aims to address this gap by focusing on chain-of-thought reasoning. It aims to produce AI systems that can:
Show a step‑by‑step rationale behind each conclusion.
Improve their accuracy through reinforcement learning, which rewards careful, correct reasoning rather than just guesswork.
Offer more transparent, user‑friendly outputs—so that the underlying logic isn’t an opaque-box testing.
In other words, DeepSeek-R1 is designed to solve the core problem of opaque AI reasoning—making these models better at thinking out loud, self-checking, and adapting to new tasks in a trustworthy way.
Imagine trying to solve a paradox like the classic chicken or the egg dilemma. At first glance, it seems like a simple question, but unraveling it requires thinking several steps ahead—questioning assumptions, considering cause and effect, and even challenging the obvious. That’s exactly what reasoning in large language models is about. It’s not just predicting the next word; it’s constructing a logical chain of thought that mirrors the way we work through complex puzzles and paradoxes.
In GenAI, reasoning is the process of structuring raw data into coherent, thoughtful problem‑solving. Consider planning a road trip: a basic model might tell you the next turn, but a model that truly reasons maps out the entire route. It anticipates detours, weighs alternative paths, and adapts as conditions change. This holistic approach lets the AI tackle everything from intricate mathematical problems to creative storytelling with a consistency that feels almost human.
DeepSeek‑V3 vs. DeepSeek‑R1‑Zero
Before we see how DeepSeek-R1 improves the chain-of-thought, let’s look at two stepping stones: the previously discussed DeepSeek-V3 and the intermediate model R1-Zero.
As we saw DeepSeek‑V3 is an impressive language model, mostly trained via supervised fine-tuning (SFT) on a wide range of curated examples—code, essays, Q&A, and more. Although it produces neat final answers, it generally won’t:
Show its intermediate logic (or “chain of thought”) unless explicitly prompted.
Self-check solutions or correct mistakes spontaneously. ...