What’s Deepseek? The Chinese App That Just Hit #1

Meanwhile, the US bets $500 billion on its AI future.

Author

Shira Lazar
January 26, 2025

The AI race is heating up. Countries and companies are spending billions to lead this next tech wave. It’s not just about innovation; it’s about power, money, and control.

Take the Stargate Project. It’s a massive U.S. effort backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX. They’re planning to invest $500 billion in AI infrastructure by 2029. Think chips, data centers, and platforms to dominate the global AI scene. That’s a lot of zeros—and a lot of ambition. While everyone is worried about AI taking jobs, these plans could reportedly create some new opportunities.

Why Does It Matter?

Whether we like it or not, AI is going to reshape everything. Healthcare, manufacturing, and finance. Countries leading in AI will see huge economic growth. The U.S. wants to stay ahead, but China isn’t slowing down. Chinese companies like DeepSeek are building powerful AI tools, even with U.S. restrictions on advanced chips. They’re proving it’s not just about hardware; it’s about smarter algorithms. 

The new Chinese AI startup is making headlines with its open-source model, DeepSeek-R1, which outperforms industry leaders like OpenAI on critical benchmarks in math and reasoning. Founded by ex-hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, the company combined 10,000 Nvidia chips and fresh talent to deliver a model that's already turning heads in Silicon Valley.

DeepSeek has also reached #1 on the app store, and users worldwide are experimenting with the potential ChatGPT rival.

Big innovation comes with big questions though.

Leaders at Davos this year argued over AI risks. Some called it civilization-threatening. Others said, “Relax, it’s fine.” But when you’re throwing around $100 billion projects like Stargate, people pay attention. What’s the plan? Who’s in control? And what about ethics?

The AI race isn’t just a story about tech; it’s about who gets to shape our future.

The stakes are massive, and the finish line keeps moving. But we shouldn’t just be spectators in this race. Follow the voices leading AI conversations (subscribing to this newsletter is a start!), understand how AI is shaping the world around us, and dive into learning how to use these tools for yourself.

This isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about making sure we’re all equipped to hold governments and companies accountable. We’ve seen what happens when innovation gets ahead of regulation (looking at you, social media). Let’s not wait until it’s too late to have a say in how this plays out.

We have the tools. Now it’s time to use them.

Other headlines to check out:

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Keeping my eye on… AI Agents

Sometimes what you really want comes easily, and sometimes it takes hard work and persistence. Don’t let that stop you!

AI agents seem to be the buzz of 2025. Unlike AI assistants, which are designed to respond to individual prompts and provide information or support, AI agents can take initiative to complete entire tasks for you. They don't just answer questions—they execute workflows, automate processes, and adapt to your goals without requiring step-by-step instructions.

Leading the charge are companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, Anthropic, and Google, each crafting AI that can browse, chat, and handle tasks across our digital landscapes as naturally as you or I might. These agents are currently in beta, but are ready to jot down reminders, snag dinner reservations, and even take over your computer to finish tasks for you.

The big news this week was around OpenAI’s first autonomous AI Agent, Operator. Keisha, who helps me with my newsletter, recently tried it herself, and while the reviews are not very positive, it is something you should keep an eye on.

Gentle Reminder 🙏

Sometimes what you really want comes easily, and sometimes it takes hard work and persistence. Don’t let that stop you!

Remember, I'm Bullish on you!

With gratitude,