Rama Krishna Sangem
How and why DeepSeek RI from China has emerged as a challenger to the US based Artificial Intelligence (AI)? The world and America itself is still grappling with it to find full answers to these questions, but we can summarize three broad points, as of now. First, DeepSeek, a Made in China AI (or RI means, Real Intelligence or Reasoned Intelligence) defies the near monopoly of American Tech giants like Nvidia, Open AI, Google’s Gemini, or Meta etc.
Second, by offering an efficient AI at an affordable costs, 10 times less that of the AI from the US based companies, DeepSeek has turned upside down the notion of pricing this newest technologies. Third and the most significant point is DeekSeek has shattered the notion that China and the technologies that come from there are not open sourced, thus lacking transparency. America and the West is considered to be promoting democracy or transparency, in every sphere including AI.
Now that notion has been shaken by DeepSeek RI. This is a real shocker to the US. Even Americans are in disbelief. This has been proved by the huge demand for DeepSeek App from people of America. Falling of stocks of Tech giants like Nvidia is secondary as they may pick up anytime soon. But, the long lasting impact of DeepSeek is going to be watched by the world. This is also a message to countries like India where Tech talent is abundant and thirst for research too is growing – that we too can create a DeepSeek.
Trump’s sanctions ineffective
The sudden burst of DeepSeek on the Tech sky carries a message – that President Donald Trump‘s sanctions against China on transfer of AI technologies are ineffective. DeepSeek, a fully Made in China by Chinese talent and homegrown entrepreneurship, tells us that the country can face and withstand the US sanctions on the technology front. Moreover, America too needs to gain from the Chinese technological advancements. Elon Musk knows it well.
Even the previous Joe Biden administration issued an executive order, on the framework of AI technologies diffusion outside the US. The entire countries were categorized into 3. Those who were favored like the UK and Australia and those who were totally kept aside like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea and the rest include India, which receive transfer of tech on case by case basis. But, the emergence of DeepSeek has belied the theory that China cannot live without American technologies.
Who’s Liang Wenfeng?
39 year old Liang Wenfeng was hardly known to the world till January 20, when DeepSeek was announced. This born, brought up and educated in China youngster has become the toast of the global tech community for more than one reason. He proved that American education is not necessary to excel in the tech world. Wenfeng proved that huge money too is not required to create a world class tech product. Compare him, a low profile entrepreneur, with other high profile Tech leaders Elon Musk or Jen-sen Huang, CEO of Nvidia.
What India can learn from DeepSeek?
This is the last point of my news story. We all know, India is a slow moving vehicle on the high-speed high way of tech advancements. We always crib over our poor resources and look for the US support for each and everything. There are 23 IITs which produce Tech workforce and CEOs for the global companies, but not one of them have created a big impact Tech product in India. We are shivering at the prospects of impact of Trump policies. Isn’t it the time to take some inspiration from Liang Wenfeng?
“Need to assess its claims”
“DeepSeek represents an interesting development in the AI landscape. By achieving sustainable accuracy at a fraction of the cost of existing AI models, it challenges industry norms and forces established players to re-assess the their spending and valuations. This could drive a strategic realignment in the sector. However, given its origins in China, we need to assess the veracity of its claims and operational transparency,” said Sudhakar Gande, Indian investment banker and former Vice-Chairman, AxisCades Technologies Ltd, Hyderabad.
Very nicely written article. Completely agree with you on how India has not been able to realise its potential to make a global impact.