China's Deep Seek Ai: New Powerhouse Shaking Up The Ai...
Asia
Technology
Deepseek, China’s Open AI competitor is making waves in the tech space as it rivals ChatGPT and Open AI. Deepseek began operations in 2023, 8 years after Open AI was released (2015) and ChatGPT (2020). The founder of Deepseek Lian Wenfeng incorporated innovativeness in developing Deepseek AI due to his experience in the financial markets, as he co-founded Hangzhou Yakebi Investment Management and Highfyer-AI, which focused on providing machine learning models for stock trading. Deepseek has gained attention in the tech space due to its cost efficiency in its development compared to CHATGPT and Open AI. It is estimated that the cost of developing Deepseek AI V3 was about $ 5.6 million representing a fraction of the cost incurred in developing CHATGPT and lower than Open AI which incurs estimates of daily expenses of $ 700,000. It’s estimated that the lower cost of Deepseek AI development is attributed to its reinforcement training techniques such as Q-Learning, Deep Q-Networks (DQN), Policy Gradient, Monte Carlo Method, Temporal Difference (TD) Learning, and Actor-Critic Method. Deepseek relied on cheaper chips, unlike CHATGPT and OpenAI which use expensive Nvidia chips for their AI models making Deepseek more sustainable in scalability. Deepseek used developers and researchers to improve its model through open-source collaboration and integrating existing technologies instead of developing new ones. The strategies used by Deepseek in its development raise questions about the efficiency of other Technology companies such as NVIDIA which have made AI expensive. As a result, rivalry is expected between Deepseek AI and other AI competitors such as CHATGPT and OpenAI since the low cost incurred by Deepseek means more people relying on it due to its affordability. Hangzhou Deepseek Artificial Intelligence Basic Technology Research Co Ltd, the company behind Deepseek has made Deepseek AI an open source to the public thus no restrictions are imposed on its use making it more user-friendly compared to CHATGPT and OpenAI which have restrictions. Deepseek received attention due to its ability to solve tasks with utmost speed and accuracy especially logical thinking queries. The release of Deepseek made it one of the most downloaded applications in the world, highlighting the continued dominance of China in emerging technologies such as AI. It also depicts increased receptiveness by the public to the use of Chinese technologies and innovations. However, the increased use of Chinese technology has been met with criticism in the US. US President Donald Trump has raised concerns about the need for US Tech companies such as Nvidia to step up in innovation to avoid being overshadowed by the Chinese technology companies. The economic tug-of-war between China and the US is likely to widen as the two countries seek dominance on the global stage with the US expected to impose more tariffs on China’s products including technology. The impact of Deepseek's entry into the market has already been felt. US stocks of technology companies like Nvidia took the biggest hit to levels of COVID-19 as investors worry due to uncertainties brought by Deepseek AI in the AI space. Open AI has also raised questions about Deepseek as it accuses the company of using Open AI proprietary technology in Deepseek’s AI development. While Deepseek is a force in the AI market, it also faces challenges like other AIs such as user privacy concerns and accuracy in response to queries. The lack of restrictions in Deepseek could also influence users on sensitive topics, resulting in international players in AI seeking the Chinese government to impose restrictions on Deepseek. The rivalry in the AI space reflects the dynamic space in technology. With more players expected in AI, there will be an increased call for AI regulations. Alibaba has already released its AI model while Tiktok’s Byte Dance is expected to release its model which claims it outperforms Microsoft’s AI. In the consumer space, individuals will be exposed to different AI platforms that fit their needs and specifications, which could lead to increased use of AI. Entry of companies such as Deepseek could potentially result in more affordability and equitable sharing of AI resources on the global stage setting the world on a full-scale use of Artificial Intelligence.
Read moreJANUARY 29, 2025 AT 8:24 PM
South Korea's Strategic Investment In Ai: Paving The Way For...
Asia
Business
With technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to make waves and could trigger the growth of economies of countries that adopt an early reliance on artificial intelligence. South Korea is headed to the phase of Artificial Intelligence by making huge investments in AI to become a global leader in this sector. The country aims to achieve a competitive edge over other countries in technology capabilities by advancing research and investment in AI. In 2019, the country made a strategic plan to make it a powerhouse in AI by 2030. It aims to achieve the strategic plan by engaging with the private sector in the country. The first objective of being a powerhouse is the establishment of a national AI computing centre. South Korea estimates an investment of $1.7 billion into the National AI computing centre by the year-end of 2027. South Korea is a leader in technology advancements in consumer electronics, where Samsung and LG have spearheaded cutting-edge technologies. Samsung and Hynix have also dominated the semiconductor industry on the global stage. South Korea was also among the countries to be the first to roll out 5G connectivity. It is also making strides in robotics, biotechnology in genetic research, and automotive technology by taking initiatives in self-driving systems in electric vehicles (EVs). By engaging companies such as Samsung and LG, it could accelerate its dominance in AI heading to 2030. The country aims to join other leading players in artificial intelligence such as the US, China, United Kingdom, India, Japan, Germany, Israel, and Singapore. South Korea aims to beat Chinese companies; Tencent, Baidu, and Huawei which lead in AI innovation and adoption in the region. The government aims to create a society that not only uses AI but understands the core of AI. For that reason, it has promoted the integration and teaching of AI courses by the end of 2025. AI courses are being taught in leading schools, while curriculum development includes important concepts of AI such as machine learning and data analysis. Workshops and AI competitions are making AI a career top choice for most young people in South Korea. The path to make South Korea a powerhouse is also evident in universities such as Yonsei and Seoul National University, which have placed great emphasis on AI programs making them among the best tertiary institutions in the world to offer AI education. The ground laid for AI by South Korea prepares the future generation to make AI more advanced and in use for day-to-day activities. The country has raised stakes in its engagement and discussions with other international players in AI through research AI summits by hosting summits such as the AI Seoul Summit which has been held in the country since 2018. This showcases the intentional goals that South Korea has in AI research and development. While AI could alleviate challenges in infrastructure, finance, health, education, manufacturing, and service delivery to the people in South Korea, it also could lead to increased misinformation and deepfakes, violation of privacy of people, inequality distribution of AI, market volatility due to reliance on AI trading, harnessing of weapons which could affect how safe people feel about AI. The over-reliance on AI by individuals could also result in reduced critical thinking due to information overload and brain-shrinking resulting in ineffective decision making in some areas that require human understanding. However, the benefits of AI outweigh its disadvantages, which has necessitated South Korea to heavily invest in AI research and development across various levels in the country. For South Korea to reach the full potential of AI, more collaboration is needed with other leading AI players and equitably sharing its AI resources with its citizens.
Read moreJANUARY 25, 2025 AT 3:02 PM
Trump's Grand Vision: A New Era For America Begins
NorthAmerica
Politics
Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th President of the US marks a monumental and significant time for the country. Donald Trump's journey to the presidency depicts true determination and exceptional resilience in his stature as a leader. Donald Trump has been able to overcome impeachment processes in his tenure as the 45th president of the US in December 2019 and cleared in 2020, February by the Senate. The second attempt at an impeachment motion on him was in January 2021 and acquitted by the US Senate in February of the same year. Several charges and assassination attempts have been on his door during his presidential campaign. What are the expectations of Donald Trump in his return to the White House as the 47th President of the US? Donald Trump has rallied the country that it will show strength and prosperity in his return to the White House. The US citizens expect Trump’s vision to transform the country economically. They feel they have lost the economic battle due to the high cost of living leading to the unaffordability of basic items such as groceries. His stance on immigration policies is expected to take place as he carries out the deportation of illegal immigrants in the US. Most notable immigrants are from Mexico and the migration advocates have promised to use all avenues available to prevent the deportation of the migrants. Donald Trump has also promised to bring peace and create stability in a world that has been marred by conflicts. His focus is on ensuring that there is long-lasting peace in the Middle East, especially between Israel and Palestine, and working on peace deals between Russia and Ukraine. He has envisioned his legacy as a peacemaker and the president who brought world stability. In his last tenure as the 45th president of the US, Trump’s administration enforced tariffs on China and his economic stance is to impose more tariffs on foreign goods especially electric vehicles. He has promised to reinstate freedom of speech, and this is evident in his stance to save TikTok, a Chinese-owned company to continue operating in the US. Biden’s administration was on the stance of TikTok ceasing its operations in the US if it didn’t sell a stake to the US stating that TikTok endangered the security of US citizens. This prompted TikTok users to migrate to Rednote, which is also a Chinese company. He is however expected to increase tariffs on imported goods with electric vehicles (EVs) taking center stage. This is expected to protect American companies from relocation to other manufacturing hubs such as China that have cheap production cost and provision of huge subsidies from the Chinese government. This is in response to companies such as Tesla, which seem to be scaling up its operations, having opened a second manufacturing factory in the year 2024 in China. The economic war between the US and China is expected to worsen due to the hardline stance of Trump’s administration. The environmental groups in the US will take a hit as Trump has been pro-fossil fuel derailing the plans for cleaner energy in the global space. He views energy as a critical factor that has led to inflation and thus will drill more fossil fuels to ease the economic burden of US citizens. Trump's stance on having a policy of only two genders in the US, male and female will likely cause a lot of court issues with human rights organizations, that Trump termed as terrorist organizations that have led to moral decay in the US. The financial markets especially the crypto markets are expected to stabilize and soar. This is due to more innovations from crypto companies and support towards crypto markets by Trump. Bitcoin and Ethereum are likely to be the winners in the crypto markets with other cryptos such as Solana, XRP, and the just-released Trump and Melania Coins gaining momentarily. Overall, Trump's inauguration presents a new chapter for American politics, financial markets, science, and technology. The exploration into space is about to move to higher scales as he has promised that the US will be the first to set foot on Mars. As a result, deep space exploration companies such as Space X and Blue Origin are expected to gain from the support of Trump’s administration. This is evident by the billionaires present at his inauguration in attendance by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sundar Pichai. As Trump returns to office, US citizens will be watching closely to see how his administration navigates the challenges and opportunities ahead on the domestic and global scene. Overall, Trump's inauguration presents a new chapter for American politics, financial markets, science, and technology.
Read moreJANUARY 20, 2025 AT 9:44 PM
Cmc Motors Group Bids Farewell To East Africa: A Legacy...
Africa
Business
The Coopers Motor Corporation also known as CMC Motors Group began its operations in the East Africa Region in the early 1980s. It has been a key industry player in the automotive industry and is among the top importers and an assembly company of vehicles in Kenya. It has been a leader in providing agricultural solutions in Kenya. The company has been offering products such as Field King, Nandi farm implements, Hero Motorbikes, and New Holland Tractors. This has made CMC Motors Group, the largest distribution supplier of automobiles in the East Africa Region. The company has had 7 branches and 6 divisions in Kenya. It also has sister companies in Uganda and Tanzania. However, as of 17th January 2025, the company announced its decision to cease operations in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The company has cited its reasons for ceasing operations due to the declining economic environment in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. In 2023, the company underwent restructuring to smoothen its business operations and increase its profits. The economic pressure in the region prompted the company to bow out of business in the region. CMC Motor Group has been steadfast in providing mechanization solutions and better services to its clients, and its closure of business in the East Africa region will affect a large pool of farmers that rely on it for agricultural purposes. The market conditions have hampered its ability to sustain its operations in the future in the region. Its closure will result in the loss of jobs for the East African people who rely on it to support their livelihoods. The company is positive in maintaining a smooth transition by supporting the employees through the transition period and adhering to the wound-up and legal processes of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The exit of CMC Motors group highlights the continuing challenges experienced by businesses in the East African Region as they fail to meet their goals of service delivery and increased earnings. The company joins a list of increased companies that have ceased operations in East Africa particularly Kenya. A classic example of companies that have ceased operations in Kenya is De La Rue in 2023 due to a decline by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in printing money, Africa Oil (2023) exited the Turkana oil project, Builders (2023) exited the Kenyan market due to increased losses, Nestle in 2023, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG) mills Kenya in 2024 citing changes in regulatory policies in the coffee sector, Game Stores in 2022 also closed down operations in the Kenyan market due to continued financial losses and failure to get a buyer. The banking sector has been affected in Uganda as a large percentage have closed operations. Greenland Bank, Teefe Bank, International Credit Bank, Cooperative Bank, National Bank of Commerce, Global Trust Bank, Crane Bank Limited, and EFC Uganda Limited have ceased operations in Uganda. The continued closure of big corporations in the region depicts a poor business environment due to regulatory hurdles, corruption, competition from local brands, high operational costs, and increased taxation. It points to the need for governments in the region to focus on win-win policies to safeguard the livelihoods of millions employed by such companies and promote more investors to the region leading to increased GDP of the East Africa Region.
Read moreJANUARY 17, 2025 AT 9:11 PM
Why The Us Wants To Acquire Greenland: Strategic Ambitions And...
NorthAmerica
Politics
The United States' idea of purchasing Greenland has been in the offing for quite a long time. However, the idea did not materialize until recently. The idea of acquiring Greenland is now being discussed in the political, public, and international arena. In 2019, Donald Trump showed interest in purchasing Greenland, part of the Arctic region, and making it part of the United States but the idea did not go through. The interest in Greenland dates to 1867. At that period, William Seward, the Secretary of State was in consideration of acquiring Greenland and Iceland. After the end of World War 2, the United States showed a keen interest in totality in acquiring Greenland by making a formal offer to purchase Greenland from Denmark at the valuation of $100 million. Harry S. Truman the US president offer to purchase Greenland was rejected by Denmark. The geographical location of Greenland is seen as of strategic importance to countries such as Russia, the US, and Denmark with the closest neighbors being Iceland and Canada. The melting ice in Greenland offers new shipping routes that would increase trade between Europe and Asia as it would reduce shipping time between the two regions. Greenland is home to a US military base which acts as the first deterrence in early detection of military threats in the Arctic region and against any potential threats against the US. Greenhand has immense natural resources including oil, natural gas, and other rare minerals. Due to climate change that has led to increased melting ice in the Arctic region, these minerals surface more attracting potential from different countries and mining companies. Due to climate change, Greenland has been a focal point for scientific research. Researchers rely on data from the melting ice in the Arctic region to make predictions and patterns on global climate change. As the Arctic continues experiencing changes, more countries will be interested in the region. Interest in the purchase of Greenland by the US led by Donald Trump was also rejected by Denmark, which raised questions as to why the US continues to push for the acquisition of Greenland. Despite Denmark rejecting the offer of acquisition of Greenland by the US, the two countries continue being partners, particularly in dealing with climate change. Donald Trump has revived his interest in the US buying Greenland in 2025. This could be a counter-response to Russia’s growing influence in the Arctic region. Russia controls a significant portion and has jurisdictions over 53% of the Arctic coastal line. The European Union led by Germany and France have voiced their concerns on the idea by the US to acquire Greenland. They have laid their emphasis on the US to adhere to international law by not interfering with the sovereignty of Denmark which has control over Greenland. Over the years, the US has made notable purchases of geographical territories. Some of the acquired territories are Louisiana (1803) acquired from France for $15 million, Florida (1819) from Spain for $5 million, Alaska (1867) from Russia for $7.2 million, Gadsden (1854) from Mexico for $15 million and Danish West Indies (1917) now US Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million. It is estimated that the cost of Greenland accumulates around $ 230 million due to its vastness and strategic positioning. If the US acquires Greenland, it will mark a century since it last purchased a territory. It will also mark a new era for the US as it will have more influence in the geopolitical and economic space in the Arctic region. However, such an acquisition is expected to be met with a lot of condemnation from European partners making it almost impossible for the US to acquire Greenland.
Read moreJANUARY 13, 2025 AT 11:57 AM
Byd Overtakes Tesla: A Shift In The Global Ev Market
Asia
Business
BYD continues to show prowess in manufacturing Electric Vehicles (EVs). It has recently surpassed Tesla, the US Automaker in manufacturing and sales of Electric vehicles. BYD, the Chinese automaker is now the global leader in EVs sector. BYD sales of EVs hit twice that of Tesla in the first quarter of the year 2023. In the fourth quarter of the year 2024, BYD also surpassed Tesla in deliveries of EVs. In 2024, BYD made production estimates of 1,777,965 electric vehicles compared to Tesla's 1,774,442 EVs. This is evidence of the ever-changing landscape of the global EVs industry with Chinese Automakers led by BYD taking the upper hand. It points to the driving factors that have made BYD have a competitive edge over other EVS automakers. Government support through favourable subsidies has been in favour of BYD which has lowered the production cost of EVs hence boosting the growth trajectory of BYD and domestic production of EVs in China. This coupled with affordable labour in China, has also attracted Tesla to open other factories in China. A diverse product portfolio has been a key factor that BYD values as a resource. Unlike Tesla, which focuses only on high-end vehicles, BYD has diversified its portfolio by emphasizing high-end and entry-level cars, buses and trucks. This has made it possible to meet consumers’ needs and price considerations. The technological prowess of BYD has also given it a competitive edge over other EV automakers. Its battery technology is extraordinary as it offers high energy density, safety and space efficiency making it one of its kind in the EVs industry. The company has made a vertical approach in its production line. It has ensured that it manufactures its batteries and semiconductors, creating a control mechanism for the supply chain, cost of production and other expenses. Therefore, the BYD can respond to market dynamics at any time. BYD has had an eye for global expansion. The company has a global expansion strategy and has already solidified its place in the global market of EVs. BYD's global success will result in further competition with other players, especially Tesla as they seek to outdo each other. More emphasis shall be placed on the affordability of EVs as indicated by BYDs strategy of manufacturing affordable and innovative EVs that meet the consumer’s needs. Technology, especially batteries will also play a role in determining movers in the EV automaker industry. Companies that will continuously deploy superior battery technologies will have control and influence the consumer markets of EVs. While Tesla will leverage its strong brand, focus more on full self-driving and build its supercharging network further, BYD is expected to continue in its technological advancements, affordability and sustainability of its EVs. The rivalry between BYD and Tesla is thus not expected to come to an end anytime soon. Companies that will be adaptable and navigate the market dynamics successfully by delivering value to consumers will experience tremendous growth and global dominance as more consumers move towards EVs.
Read moreJANUARY 9, 2025 AT 9:12 PM