Deepseek, the Most Talkative AI?

Why brevity beats verbosity when all you need is a quick PHP fix

Deepseek used to be my go-to AI for straight-to-the-point code snippets. Lately, however, every query sparks a novella of background, context, and theoretical musings, while the actual code snippet arrives after five minutes of reading. For a 54-year-old non-hardcore programmer going insanely all-in with AI, this verbosity is more of a hindrance than a help.

1. From Code Snippets to Essay Responses

Just now:

• Ask: “How do I reverse an array in PHP?”
• Deepseek answer: (redacted)

After scrolling and scrolling…

Now:

• Deepseek answer:
  • A seems like an endless paragraph primer on PHP arrays
  • A sidebar on indexing and memory usage
  • A mini-history of array functions
  • And finally—after you’ve scrolled—the single line of code

I’ve offloaded more tasks to AI—programming included—and while that’s “making me stupid, yes, but more brilliantly intelligent,” I simply don’t have time to internalize every backstory every time I need a quick dribble of code【source】.

2. When Explanations Become Roadblocks

Verbose AI hurts productivity:

• Time Cost: Five minutes scanning to find a two-second code fix.
• Cognitive Overload: Context is good, but too much drowns the task at hand.
• Flow Disruption: Interrupts the hacker’s flow state we chase during sprints.

When “fail fast” is the mantra, verbose AI feels like a detour.

3. The Coder’s Perspective: Brevity Matters

As someone who’s gone all-in with AI and offloaded complexity (to my benefit and detriment), I need:

• Instant Solutions: Code snippet first; explanation on demand.
• Configurable Depth: Toggle between “concise” vs. “detailed.”
• Code-Only Mode: Silence commentary unless explicitly summoned.

When deadlines loom, we need AI to write code, not dissertations.

4. Getting the Best from Deepseek

To reclaim brevity:

• Prompt Precisely:
  • “Show PHP code only; no explanation.”
  • “Snippet only, please.”
• Use Follow-Ups:
  1. First: “Give me code.”
  2. Then: “Explain line 1 in one sentence.”
• Switch to Grok: For speed and straightforward solutions, I’m mostly using Grok now. But if Deepseek can shut up and dribble on cue, I’ll Deepseek more and more again.

In the end, I need to fix my prompts instead of blaming AI.

5. Beyond Deepseek: Embracing the Right AI for the Task

Pick the tool that matches your goal:

• Exploratory Research: Deepseek’s depth can spark new ideas.
• Quick Fixes: Grok or Copilot for immediate PHP code.
• Learning & Onboarding: Deepseek’s explanations help fill knowledge gaps.

🔥 Final Thought

AI transforms coding, but not every AI should talk the same way. Deepseek’s verbosity might suit learners, but seasoned devs deserve a “code-first” option. By fine-tuning prompts, mixing tools, and demanding brevity, we enjoy both depth and speed. After all, in the developer’s world, less truly is more.

After two years of juggling multiple AIs—convinced I’d earned a PhD in artificial intelligence, only to discover I’m the bad rabbit pulled along by its own tricks—I’ve learned there’s always more to learn and unlearn. Just like today’s AI-resistant careers, tools evolve. Be the steady turtle: iterate, adapt, and never get too comfortable with complacent speed. Only that relentless pace can keep you ahead of both AI and obsolescence.