Comparative Evaluation of Advanced AI Reasoning Models in Pediatric Clinical Decision Support: ChatGPT O1 vs. DeepSeek-R1

Abstract Introduction The adoption of advanced reasoning models, such as ChatGPT O1 and DeepSeek-R1, represents a pivotal step forward in clinical decision support, particularly in pediatrics. ChatGPT O1 employs “chain-of-thought reasoning” (CoT) to enhance structured problem-solving, while DeepSeek-R1 introduces self-reflection capabilities through reinforcement learning. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of these models in pediatric scenarios using the MedQA dataset. Materials and Methods A total of 500 multiple-choice pediatric questions from the MedQA dataset were presented to ChatGPT O1 and DeepSeek-R1. Each question included four or more options, with one correct…