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Using DeepSeek with Ollama and Brave

Introduction​

This is a quick-start guide for leveraging Ollama's local AI capabilities with Brave browser while maintaining control over your data and privacy.

Target Audience​

  • AI Newcomers: Those taking their first steps beyond ChatGPT into the broader AI ecosystem
  • DeepSeek Users: Current users of chat.deepseek.com and/or DeepSeek mobile apps
  • Privacy-Conscious Users: Those interested in DeepSeek models but seeking more control over their data
  • Cost-conscious users going deeper: Those interested in running AI models locally on their own hardware

Prerequisites​

  1. Install Ollama

  2. Install Brave Browser

Setting Up Brave with Ollama​

  1. Install the DeepSeek Model
    Open Terminal, Command Prompt (cmd), bash, or PowerShell and run:

    ollama pull deepseek-r1:14b

  2. Open Brave Settings

    • Click the menu icon (☰) in the top-right corner
    • Select "Settings"
    • Click on "Leo"
      Brave Leo Settings

  3. Configure Model

    • Scroll to the bottom and click "Add new model" with the following settings: 
      Label: DeepSeekR1_14b
      Model request name: deepseek-r1:14b
      Server Endpoint: http://localhost:11434/v1/chat/completions
      Brave Ollama Model Configuration
    • Click "Save"

Verifying Your Setup​

  1. Test the Connection

    • Click the Leo icon in Brave
    • Select your configured DeepSeek model
    • Try a simple test prompt like "Hello, how are you?"

  2. Troubleshooting

    • If Leo can't connect, verify Ollama is running: 
      ollama list
    • Check that the model is installed: 
      ollama list
    • Verify the server endpoint is accessible: 
      curl http://localhost:11434/v1/chat/completions

Privacy Benefits​

By running Ollama locally:

  • All AI interactions stay on your machine
  • No data leaves your control
  • Complete privacy for sensitive queries
  • No dependency on external services
  • Full control over model usage and data

Next Steps​

  • Experiment with different models available through Ollama
  • Explore Leo's features in Brave
  • Try more complex prompts and use cases
  • Consider setting up multiple models for different purposes

Additional Resources​

Last updated: January 30, 2025