By Kanis Leung / APJanuary 28, 2025 5:42 AM ESTHONG KONG Chinese tech startup DeepSeek s new artificial intelligence chatbot has sparked discussions about the competition between China and the U.S. in AI development, with many users flocking to test the rival of OpenAI's ChatGPT.DeepSeeks AI assistant became the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apples iPhone store on Tuesday afternoon and its launch made Wall Street tech superstars' stocks tumble. Observers are eager to see whether the Chinese company has matched Americas leading AI companies at a fraction of the cost.The chatbot's ultimate impact on the AI industry is still unclear, but it appears to censor answers on sensitive Chinese topics, a practice commonly seen on China's internet. In 2023, Chinaissued regulationsrequiring companies to conduct a security review and obtain approvals before their products can be publicly launched.Here are some answers The Associated Press received from DeepSeek's new chatbot and ChatGPT:What does Winnie the Pooh mean in China?For many Chinese, theWinnie the Poohcharacter is a playful taunt of President Xi Jinping. Chinese censors in the past briefly banned social media searches for the bear in mainland China.ChatGPT got that idea right. It said Winnie the Pooh had become a symbol of political satire and resistance, often used to mock or criticize Xi. It explained that internet users started comparing Xi to the bear over similarities in their physical appearances.DeepSeek's chatbot said the bear is a beloved cartoon character that is adored by countless children and families in China, symbolizing joy and friendship.Then, abruptly, it said the Chinese government is dedicated to providing a wholesome cyberspace for its citizens." It added that all online content is managed following Chinese laws and socialist core values, with the aim of protecting national security and social stability.Who is the current US president?It might be easy for many people to answer, but both AI chatbots mistakenly said Joe Biden, whose term ended last week, because their data was last updated in October 2023. But they both tried to be responsible by reminding users to verify with updated sources.What happened during the military crackdown in Beijings Tiananmen Square in June 1989?The 1989 crackdown saw government troops open fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths. The event remainsa taboo subjectin mainland China.DeepSeek's chatbot answered, Sorry, that's beyond my current scope. Let's talk about something else.But ChatGPT gave a detailed answer on what it called one of the most significant and tragic events in modern Chinese history. The chatbot talked about the background of the massive protests, the estimated casualties and the legacy.What is the state of US-China relations?DeepSeek's chatbot's answer echoed China's official statements, saying the relationship between the world's two largest economies is one of the most important bilateral relationships globally. It said China is committed to developing ties with the U.S. based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation.We hope that the United States will work with China to meet each other halfway, properly manage differences, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and push forward the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations, it said.ChatGPT's answer was more nuanced. It said the state of the U.S.-China relationship is complex, characterized by a mix of economic interdependence, geopolitical rivalry and collaboration on global issues. It highlighted key topics including the two countries' tensions over the South China Sea and Taiwan, their technological competition and more.The relationship between the U.S. and China remains tense but crucial, part of its answer said.Is Taiwan part of China?Again like the Chinese official narrative DeepSeek's chatbot saidTaiwanhas been an integral part of China since ancient times.Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected by blood, jointly committed to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it said.ChatGPT said the answer depends on one's perspective, while laying out China and Taiwan's positions and the views of the international community. It said from a legal and political standpoint, China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and the island democracy operates as a de facto independent country with its own government, economy and military.____Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this story.

What just happened? Nvidia has once again broken the record for the largest one-day decline of market value in US history. After the release of the open-source R1 AI model by Chinese startup DeepSeek, which caused panic within the industry, Team Green's shares dropped 17%, resulting in its market cap falling by almost $600 billion. Nvidia's stock price crashed to $118.58 yesterday, wiping $593 billion off its value and marking the company's worst day on the market since the start of the pandemic March 16, 2020. The loss has seen Nvidia lose its position as the world's biggest company by market cap as its valuation fell from $3.5 trillion to $2.9 trillion, making it less valuable than Apple and Microsoft.Nvidia's crash was the result of DeepSeek's free, open-source large language model called R1 that launched last week and is now the top app in the US Apple App store. The China-based firm says it trained its model with 671 billion parameters using just 2,048 Nvidia H800s and $5.6 million, which are tiny figures compared to the resources required by Alphabet, Meta and Amazon, who spend billions on their AI systems.DeepSeek's AI capabilities are said to be comparable to some of best available, including OpenAI's products. What makes this even more impressive is that DeepSeek created its model despite the limitations imposed by US export sanctions on China.The market's concern is that other companies will soon be able to replicate DeepSeek's achievement of creating high-end AI tools without spending billions on Nvidia's most expensive flagship GPUs.Nvidia's share price over the last monthOther tech companies saw their share prices fall, with Arm, Broadcom and Oracle all crashing at least 10%. According to the Financial Post, the total market cap losses across US and European tech companies could exceed $1 trillion.DeepSeek's achievements have been praised by big Silicon Valley names such as Marc Andreessen and even Sam Altman, CEO of rival firm OpenAI, who called it an "impressive model." // Related Stories"We will obviously deliver much better models and also it's legit invigorating to have a new competitor!" Altman wrote.The record for the previous largest market cap fall also belongs to Nvidia. In September 2024, weak data on the state of the manufacturing sector from the Institute for Supply Management brought concerns about an economic slowdown. It led to $279 billion being wiped off the company's value, beating the $232 billion loss Meta suffered in February 2022.Nvidia's latest fall has also affected the wealth of CEO Jensen Huang, the company's largest individual shareholder, who saw his net worth drop $21 billion from $124.4 billion to $103.1 billion.

In context: A graphics card's MSRP often acts more as a guideline than a strict rule, as hardware partners frequently offer pricier custom variants. Amid concerns about limited supplies for Nvidia's upcoming RTX 5090 and 5080, reports indicate that securing these cards at their manufacturer's suggested retail price may be more difficult than with previous generations. A leaker on the Chiphell forums recently suggested that Nvidia's board partners will struggle to sell custom RTX 50 series graphics cards at MSRP due to the high cost of GDDR7 memory. Profit margins are expected to be lower than usual.As consumers eagerly anticipate the launch of the RTX 5090 and 5080 later this week, the Nvidia-manufactured Founders Edition variants have garnered the most attention. Although the company sells its in-house GPUs at standard retail pricing, they are expected to sell out quickly, leaving partner cards with various cooling and overclocking configurations as the only option.MSI, Gigabyte, and other vendors have revealed numerous custom options, but most GPU partners have yet to disclose pricing information. Almost all of the few price tags revealed thus far are hundreds of dollars above MSRP.Several Gigabyte RTX 5080 models are currently listed on Best Buy, but only one, the Windforce, matches the $999 Founders Edition. Other options range between $1,199 and $1,399. Meanwhile, leaked prices from B&H indicate that Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte will sell the GPU for between $1,299 and $1,699. The flagship RTX 5090 starts at $2,000 but partner prices sit between $2,379 and $2,799.A tipster on the Chiphell forums indicated that GDDR7 VRAM, included in every RTX 50 series GPU, is the main culprit. The new memory modules are faster but costlier than the GDDR6 VRAM used in RTX 40 series, Intel Arc Battlemage, and AMD Radeon RX 9000 cards, and the leaker suspects that board partners are shouldering the expense. In this scenario, the leaker said that selling RTX 50 GPUs is "like charity."The RTX 5090 and 5080 are set to launch on January 30, and consumers have already begun camping outside Micro Center days beforehand. The RTX 5070 Ti and 5070 are expected to arrive in February for $749 and $549 respectively. Details on the RTX 5060 are forthcoming. // Related StoriesAdditionally, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT and 9070 begin shipping in March, but their prices remain uncertain. Team Red's next-generation GPUs are expected to compete with the RTX 5070.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsA little real talkThe paradigm shiftPush for more$2,000 graphics cards, tempered glass cases, and power supplies that routinely top 1,000 watts. Its easy to get caught up in how expensive PC gaming can be in 2025, throw up your hands, and say to hell with all of it. You dont need an RTX 5090 to play games on PC in 2025, though. Now, more than ever before, PC gaming is available for just about everyone.Not literally everyone, mind you, but theres been a significant decrease in the barrier to entry for PC gaming over the past several years. Its a story thats been lost amid rising graphics card prices and PC ports that call for high-end hardware. But dont be dismayed. Although its not always the best experience, getting into PC gaming today is much easier than it was in years past.Recommended VideosBill Roberson / Digital TrendsNewer PC gamers we need to have a little bit of real talk. Things today are significantly better than they used to be. Heres a review from TechPowerUp of the then-new GeForce GTX 760 and its performance in the, also then-new, Tomb Raider reboot. Nvidias midrange offering couldnt even manage 50 frames per second (fps) at 900p. Go up to 1080p, youre looking at 35 fps, and at 1,600p, the card couldnt even manage 20 fps.Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Despite what would be considered a company-destroying performance today, the card earned a Highly Recommended badge from TechPowerUp. AnandTech agreed at the time, calling the card a great deal, despite the fact that it fell short of 60 fps in multiple games, even at 900p. Compare this assessment to my own RTX 4060 review. I called it not a bad graphics card, just not a particularly good one, and certainly one thats hard to recommend, despite the GPU reaching well above 60 fps in just about every game I tested at 1080p some games were even in the triple digits.A lot has changed over the course of a decade and change. The expectations for performance have changed. In 2013, the actual numbers mattered less than the price/performance ratio a good chunk of consumer hardware just couldnt maintain a playable frame rate in the latest, most demanding games. Flash back a decade before that, and there werent even enough modern benchmarks to thoroughly test the performance of a GPU like we do today. Instead of an endless barrage of games, youd see more tests focused on specific things like anti-aliasing or anisotropic filtering.In years past, the difference between two graphics cards was playable and unplayable performance. Today, the difference is usually a good experience or a better one. And software tools are making that gap even smaller.Jacob Roach / Digital TrendsIm not just shaking my cane, saying the kids dont know how good they got it these days. Its good that PC hardware has gotten powerful enough that its not even a question if you can play a game or not. And its good that the expectations of buyers have adjusted accordingly, lest we be caught with artificially limited PC hardware just to squeeze more life out of each release. But the raw power of hardware isnt the crux of my argument here. Its the ways you can use that hardware.Today, you can buy just about any graphics card, laptop, or PC and play most games. Notice I didnt saygaminglaptop or desktop. You dont need specific gaming hardware to play games on your PC these days, and there have been a few major shifts in the PC industry thats led to this situation.The hardware has gotten more powerful, and therefore cheaper, but the major innovation has been on the software side of things. Today, you dont have to just settle for whatever your hardware is capable of. You have upscaling and frame generation tools to improve your performance, and they can transform the experience so much that you dont even need dedicated gaming hardware. Thats exactly why I swore off gaming laptops last year.Today, I can play just about any game on a thin laptop that doesnt even have a discrete GPU, and usually at decent quality settingsThere are some vendor-specific tools like Intels XeSS and Nvidias DLSS that are locked to specific hardware, but there are great alternatives that work regardless of what hardware youre packing. You have AMDs FSR available in hundreds of games, driver-based upscaling from both Nvidia and AMD, and tools like Lossless Scaling that give you upscaling and frame generation regardless of the hardware you have.The experience isnt perfect with these tools intense upscaling degrades image quality, frame generation comes with latency concerns, and visual artifacts are commonplace. But you can at least play a game, and thats a heck of a lot more than the hardware of yesteryear can claim. Imagine going back to 2013, looking at the performance of the GTX 760, and knowing you could improve the performance with upscaling or frame generation. Were living in an entirely different world for PC gaming today.Today, I can play just about any game on a thin laptop that doesnt even have a discrete GPU, and usually at decent quality settings and frame rates at or exceeding 60 fps. A decade ago, that was more than you could ask out of a $250 (midrange at the time) desktop graphics card.Jacob Roach / Digital TrendsTheres another element of the upscaling and frame generation conversation how both developers and hardware brands are leaning on these tools to find performance gains when the hardware itself doesnt measure up. Thats important, and its worth advocating for faster hardware at lower prices.But its also important to take stock of what these tools mean. They mean less powerful hardware can create a playable gaming experience, and you dont need to shell out for the tippy-top hardware just to get 60 fps in the most demanding games available. There are plenty of justified criticisms of PC gaming today but despite them, the hobby is easier to get into than it ever has been.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of Contents7. The Bear (2022-present)6. Ted Lasso (2020-2023)5. House of the Dragon (2022-present)4. The Last of Us (2023-present)3. Shgun (2024-present)2. Squid Game (2021-present)1. Stranger Things (2016-present)Television continues to fill the airwaves with top-tier programs that rival cinema in terms of quality and acclaim. Shows on regular television networks and streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, and Max have recently delivered several outstanding new shows and seasons that achieved record-breaking ratings, amassed significant awards, or both.Though the world is only halfway into the 2020s, these seven TV shows have established themselves as the best of the decade so far.Recommended VideosFX Networks / FX NetworksCooking shows have long been a staple of television, and this FX/Hulu series captivated audiences with its unique portrayal of the life of a chef. Specifically, The Bearfollows an acclaimed chef struggling to run his late brothers restaurant, forcing him to adapt to this new environment and connect with those around him in order to succeed. The Bear captures the intensity and chaos of the kitchen with its quick-cut visuals and rapid-fire banter, the latter courtesy of the shows outstanding cast.However, the show also presents an emotional character study of its protagonist that realistically tackles heavy issues like suicide, trauma, grief, and addiction. Its no surprise this series received so many Primetime Emmys and Golden Globes over the years. With a fourth season on the way, its clear The Bear has left viewers hungry for more.Stream The Bear on Hulu.Apple TV+ / Apple TV+No one couldve predicted this show would become such a hit with its silly premise, but comedy makes fools of us all. Ted Lasso delivered much-needed love, hope, and positivity to audiences when it premiered during the worldwide pandemic. However, the way the series tackled mental health and showed its characters overcoming fear and trauma made it even more emotional and resonant.Though the show may have juggled too much with its third season, Ted Lasso gave something for all audiences to enjoy with its quirky humor, various characters, and tender message. One can only imagine where the series will go with a rumored fourth season on the way.Stream Ted Lasso on Apple TV+.Ollie Upton/HBO / HBOFollowing the divisive response to Game ofThronessfinal season, HBOs hit fantasy franchise regained its former glory with this big-budget prequel. The first season exceptionally set up the drama between the Targaryens and the Hightowers, and the second season kicked off their bloody war with a bang.Exploring gender politics and issues of greed, social class, and war, House of the Dragonpresents another realistic and riveting chapter in Westeross self-destructive history. The story is especially carried by its incredible actors and their complex characters. Though it is close to impossible for it to meet the high expectations set by Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon is a worthy prequel and an incredible story on its own.Stream House of the Dragon on Max.4. The Last of Us (2023-present)HBO / HBOVideo game adaptations have long held a stigma in Hollywood, as many failed to live up to their source material and deliver a satisfying story. Thankfully, HBOs The Last of Us both honored and elevated the exalted game its based on, setting an incredibly high standard for prestige television as a whole.The shows bold, sophisticated narrative expands the games post-apocalyptic world, focusing on characters other than protagonists Joel and Ellie, delivering emotional and grounded human drama that few shows have dared to tell. The Last of Us is more than a suspenseful and terrifying zombie show. Its a story about humanity and how people find meaning in a cruel, uncaring world that feels closer to reality after the global pandemic.Stream The Last of Us on Max.Kurt Iswarienko/FX / FXThis acclaimed period drama features a clash of clans and cultures in which Japans feudal lords battle for control of the country as a European sailor shipwrecks in their unfamiliar land with weapons and knowledge that could alter the course of the conflict. Shgunwas praised in every conceivable aspect, particularly its authentic portrayal of Japanese history and culture.Overall, this FX/Hulu series stands tall as a beautiful and gripping political drama with a realistic exploration of war and prejudice. In just one season, the series won a record-breaking 18 Emmys and Primetime Emmys, including Best Drama Series at the Primetime Emmys and the Golden Globes, cementing it as one of the greatest shows in television history.Stream Shgunon Hulu.2. Squid Game (2021-present)Netflix / NetflixThis South Korean thriller series shocked the world when it premiered on Netflix, becoming an instant international sensation and increasing the global appeal of non-American shows. Squid Game pulls no punches as it presents a bloody and brutal death game with black humor and scathing social commentary about capitalism, social classes, and economic inequalities.Many audiences can relate to the financial struggles that the shows various characters face as they try to win big in Squid Game. That has only made such a dark but intelligent series more heartbreaking. But just like the shows characters, audiences keep coming back to the Squid Game.Stream Squid Game on Netflix.Netflix / NetflixStranger Things continued its streaming supremacy with its fourth season in 2022. The war against the Upside Down had never been so vast and emotional before, and the stakes had never been higher. While the heroes of Hawkins were forced to embark on their own adventures across the world, their stories came together in an epic blend of genres that sent the franchise into an exciting new direction.It also introduced one of televisions best new villains, Vecna, who tore through the world and the characters with his plan to destroy humanity. All in all, Stranger Things presented a larger, darker story that brought it to the level of franchises like Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and The Lord of the Rings in scale, emotion, and popularity. One can only imagine how high it will fly in Stranger Things 5.Stream Squid Game on Netflix.Editors Recommendations7 best horror movies of the 2020s so far, ranked

An independent enquiry found competition wasnt working in the market, which could result in higher costs, less and innovation as well as worse service across the U.K. economy.

The AI startup developed a top system by relying on inexperienced engineers and a loophole in U.S. export controls.

feeding frenzy Why the markets are freaking out about Chinese AI newcomer DeepSeek A big day for short sellers after Nvidia loses $600 billion off its market value. Tim Bradshaw, George Steer, Michael Acton, and Tabby Kinder, Financial Times Jan 28, 2025 9:22 am | 0 Credit: FT montage/Bloomberg Credit: FT montage/Bloomberg Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreA Chinese companys claim of a $5.6 million artificial intelligence breakthrough wiped almost $600 billion from Nvidias market value on Monday, shattering Wall Streets confidence that tech companies AI spending spree will continue and dealing an apparent blow to US tech leadership.Yet many in Silicon Valley believe the broad sell-off is an overreaction to DeepSeeks latest model, which they argue could spur wider adoption and utility of AI by radically lowering the technologys cost, sustaining demand for Nvidias chips.Pat Gelsinger, recently forced out as chief executive of Intel, was among those buying his former rival Nvidias stock on Monday. The market reaction is wrong: lowering the cost of AI will expand the market, he said in a LinkedIn post. DeepSeek is an incredible piece of engineering that will usher in greater adoption of AI.Nvidia became the worlds most valuable company last year as investors bet on Big Tech companies insatiable appetite for its powerful AI processors. The chipmakers chief executive Jensen Huang has predicted $1 trillion worth of AI data centres will be built in the next few years.Underpinning that confidence was the concept of an AI scaling law, popularised by senior leaders at AI start-ups such as OpenAI and Anthropic, that suggested AI models got smarter as they were fed more data and computing resources.DeepSeeks release of its highly capable R1 model and the research paper explaining openly how it was made seemed to break the scaling laws spell, as its chatbot leapt to the top of the iPhones US App Store chart over the weekend. The Philadelphia Semiconductor index shed 9.2 percent, its worst daily drop since March 2020.Chinese tech champion Huawei has emerged as Nvidias primary competitor in China for inference chips. The Financial Times has previously reported that it has been working with AI companies, including DeepSeek, to adapt models trained on Nvidia GPUs to run inference on its Ascend chips.Huawei is getting better. They have an opening as the government is telling the big tech companies that they need to buy their chips and use them for inference, said one semiconductor investor in Beijing.The announcement that triggered Mondays stock market spasm over Nvidia came as the US moves to assert its leadership in AI over China, and as the biggest US tech companies prepare to report their latest earnings. US President Donald Trump said DeepSeek should be a wake-up call for our industries that we need to be laser focused on competing to win.In December, DeepSeek released the V3 model, which it claimed was comparable to ones from OpenAI and Google, but trained it on a fraction of the budget with $5.6 million. The Chinese company said it used just 2,048 Nvidia chips, which could have been obtained without breaching US export controls that have throttled Chinas access to US chipmakers latest products.Then, last week, it unveiled its latest R1 model, a reasoning model that is comparable to OpenAIs o1.Further spooking investors, DeepSeeks engineers were able to unlock greater performance by writing code without relying on Nvidias Cuda software platform, which is widely seen as crucial to the Silicon Valley chipmakers dominance of AI development.DeepSeek has levelled the playing field, said Stephen Yiu, chief investment officer of Blue Whale Growth, the investment fund backed by billionaire Peter Hargreaves, which last month reduced its exposure to the Magnificent Seven group of big US tech companies on concerns over their huge expenditure on AI.The biggest US tech companies have had monopoly access to AI the entry ticket price was in the billions of dollars, otherwise there was no chance you could challenge the status quo, Yiu said. That made DeepSeeks arrival a very positive development for the adoption, development and penetration of AI, he added.Short sellers, who have placed a flurry of bets against Nvidias sky-high share price in recent weeks, were jubilant on Monday. Nvidias 17 percent share price decline generated $6.75 billion in profits for short sellers, according to calculations by data group S3 Partners.A Chinese entity put out open-sourced code right before earnings of all the big American tech companies, said one short seller with interests in a number of large AI companies. Theyre telling you theres no value [in those companies AI models], its commoditised.However, some analysts have challenged the idea that DeepSeeks breakthrough AI was so cheap to build.Dylan Patel of chip consultancy SemiAnalysis has estimated that DeepSeek and its sister company, the hedge fund High-Flyer, have access to tens of thousands of Nvidia GPUs, which were used to train R1s predecessors.DeepSeek has spent well over $500 million on GPUs over the history of the company, Patel said. While their training run was very efficient, it required significant experimentation and testing to work.G Dan Hutcheson at TechInsights said the market reaction did not reflect who was most exposed to DeepSeeks breakthrough. I dont see it as a big hit to Nvidia, I see it as a bigger problem for the companies like OpenAI that are trying to sell these services, he said.Nvidia argued on Monday that DeepSeeks innovations would benefit, not blow up, its business.DeepSeek is an excellent AI advancement and a perfect example of Test Time Scaling, Nvidia said, referring to AI systems that consume more computing resources after a user poses a question or sets a task by reasoning or taking multiple linked steps to respond. Inference requires significant numbers of Nvidia GPUs and high-performance networking.The implication of Nvidias statement is that by pushing the boundaries of what is possible with open-source AI models, DeepSeek has in fact grown demand for the chips that are used to run them.While Nvidia is best known for providing the chips that are used to train or build a new AI system, it has said that it now generates just as much revenue from chips for inference or processing user requests using a finished model.Huang argued on a recent podcast that demand for inference is about to go up by a billion times due to new AI models that reason or take time to plan and deliver an answer to a complex query.There are two uses for Nvidia chips, training and inference, and were just at the beginning of the inference story, said Jordan Jacobs, co-founder of AI investor Radical Ventures, who bought more Nvidia shares on Monday as the chipmakers stock slumped 17 percent. As we see the world shifting to AI it requires a huge upgrade in chips. The sell-off seems to be an overreaction and a lack of understanding.The market is not properly realizing this is great for Nvidia, said Dmitry Shevelenko, chief business officer at Perplexity, the San Francisco-based AI search start-up that counts the chipmaker among its investors. No matter what, Jensen wins.Additional reporting by Cristina Criddle in San Francisco and Eleanor Olcott in Beijing. 2025 The Financial Times Ltd. All rights reserved Not to be redistributed, copied, or modified in any way.Tim Bradshaw, George Steer, Michael Acton, and Tabby Kinder, Financial TimesTim Bradshaw, George Steer, Michael Acton, and Tabby Kinder, Financial Times 0 Comments

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorJanuary 28, 20255 Min ReadPuka Janluka via Alamy Stock PhotoThanks to the legalization of gambling-related activities in many parts of the world, the betting industry is booming. The field's current market size is over a billion US dollars, according to Statista, including both on-site and online betting operations.As the market flourishes, a growing number of betters are hoping that AI will help them beat the odds.Playing the OddsAI's role in gambling is still relatively new, with operators only just beginning to explore its potential impact on backend systems and player platforms, says Yoel Zuckerberg, chief product officer at Soft2Bet, an online casino and sports book software provider. In an online interview, he notes that most industry players currently encounter AI only in limited forms within games, yet he believes that the technology's role is likely to expand. "In the near future, AI is expected to play an increasingly central role in gaming platforms, enhancing personalization and engagement."AI's strongest attribute lies in its ability to enhance personalization and interactivity, Zuckerberg says. "By tracking player behaviors, preferences, and patterns, AI can deliver tailored, bespoke gameplay," he explains. "Integrating gamification elements, such as rewards and challenges, AI can also foster stronger customer loyalty and engagement."Related:Bettors can turn to AI to uncover patterns that provide valuable insights for making informed decisions, says Marin Cristian-Ovidiu, CEO of Online Games.IO in an online interview. However, when it comes to games of pure chance such as slots or roulette, AI has little to offer, since those outcomes are completely random.Many gambling operators are understandably wary of AI, worried that the technology could soon shift the balance of player engagement and strategy, Cristian-Ovidiu says. For gamblers eager to explore AI's gambling potential, he recommends starting, and becoming familiar with, data analytics platforms.AI is rapidly transforming the gambling industry, offering both opportunities and challenges, says Christian Nzouatoum, founder of Nzouat, a firm specializing in small business AI and software architecture. "In areas like sports betting, poker, and blackjack, AI can be a powerful tool for gamblers, allowing them to analyze massive datasets and make informed decisions based on predictive models," he observes via email. "For example, in sports betting, AI can process player statistics, team dynamics, and even external factors like weather conditions, to offer insights that go beyond what a human could easily calculate." In poker, Nzouatoum notes, "AI tools can assess an opponent's behavior and adjust strategies accordingly."Related:On the flip side, AI has only limited applicability in games of pure chance, such as slot machines and roulette, where outcomes are entirely unpredictable, Zuckerberg says. "However, it can still add value by personalizing the player experience, customizing rewards, and creating engagement-enhancing features within virtual slots and similar games."Other ConcernsGambling organizations, including casinos and sportsbooks, are keeping a close eye on AI developments. "They understand the advantages but are also concerned about maintaining fair play and game integrity," says video game blogger Dane Nk, in an online interview. For individuals looking to dive into AI-assisted gambling, Nk suggests starting with data analysis tools geared toward betters, of which there are many. "They can offer valuable insights but remember that the human touch -- skills and game knowledge -- should never be overlooked."Since AI's regulatory framework remains largely undefined, with many jurisdictions lacking specific guidelines for its use, businesses -- including gambling operators -- are currently operating in a gray area. "To mitigate the risks, companies should stay informed on regulatory developments and strengthen internal policies to ensure compliance," Zuckerberg advises.Related:Gambling Addiction DetectionRecent studies reveal a complex outlook in which AI is both a potential savior and a cunning manipulator in the world of gambling and addiction, says Christian Perry, CEO of Undetectable AI, a firm offering AI detection and conversion technology.The key is balance and responsible use, Perry states in an email interview. He believes that casinos can, and should, identify problematic gamblers using AI, and take every possible measure to prevent exploiting them in any way. "In person and online casinos should acknowledge the benefits and risks of using AI," he says.Betting on the FutureAI is transforming not only the player experience but also gambling enterprises' operational efficiency and strategic approach. "As we move forward, we anticipate that AI will play an integral role in shaping a more responsible, player-centric gaming environment," Zuckerberg says. "It's essential for [gambling] organizations to prioritize ethical AI practices, stay updated on regulations, and maintain a strong focus on transparency."About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

Lisa Morgan, Freelance WriterJanuary 28, 20258 Min Read Mentor58 via Alamy StockWorkforce data literacy has been a priority ever since companies started using data analytics. With artificial intelligence, generative AI, and augmented analytics, the need persists, meaning end users should understand the basics so they can drive clear business value using data.In 2025, data literacy should mean the ability to engage with data critically and confidently, emphasizing data quality and efficacy. Non-technical roles should not only know how to interpret data but also evaluate its reliability, relevance, and ethical implications in their workflows to achieve business goals, says Dan Merzlyak, senior vice president, global head of data, analytics and AI at Postgres data and AI company EnterpriseDB. These roles should also be comfortable using AI-powered tools and automated workflows, understanding how they streamline repetitive tasks, uncover insights, and enhance productivity.Casey Foss, chief commercial officer at global business and technology consulting firm West Monroe, has been emphasizing the importance of data literacy across his company for the past couple of years, because of its role in AI and the competitive advantage it can drive in any organization.If you havent invested in building these skills yet, you're already behind, says Foss. For non-technical roles, the focus is on using data to make faster, smarter decisions. Its about leveraging data to tell compelling stories to your team, clients, or investors. Its about using data to stay competitive and measure your performance against market leaders and anticipate future market makers. Related:What Everyone Should Know in 2025At its core, data literacy requires understanding data quality including accuracy, completeness and timeliness to make informed decisions.[Data literacy] extends to evaluating AI-generated insights by understanding model fundamentals, limitations and ethical considerations. Effective data literacy also involves collaborative data practices, such as utilizing shared single source of truth dashboards to ensure teams work with consistent, up-to-date information, says Merzlyak. Finally, it demands ethical awareness in data handling, including recognizing biases, protecting privacy and weighing both business and societal impacts of data usage decisions. Together, these components enable professionals to effectively leverage data and AI while maintaining responsible practices.Dan Merzlyak, EnterpriseDBAlex Li, founder of StudyX at AI education company StudyX.AI says data literacy for non-technical people means being able to understand the meaning of data, make sensible decisions based on data, and collaborate effectively with technical teams to jointly promote business development.Related:The foundation of data literacy lies in having a basic understanding of data. Non-technical people need to master the basic concepts, terms, and types of data, and understand how data is collected and processed, says Li. Meanwhile, data literacy should also include familiarity with data analysis tools. Although there is no need to become a professional data analyst, mastering some common data analysis tools can assist non-technical people in conducting simple analyses on data and identifying trends, patterns or anomalies in the data. In addition, the basic knowledge of data security and privacy is also an important part of data literacy.Why Some Think Data Literacy Alone Is InsufficientAt this point in time, Raviraj Hegde, SVP of growth at non-profit online fundraising platform Donorbox, believes data literacy shouldnt just mean knowing how to read charts or understand different types of data.Its more important to focus on AI literacy, says Hegde. To get the most out of data, people need to learn how to do something with it, like using AI tools to turn it into something useful. A lot of training focuses too much on tools and buzzwords instead of how to use data or AI to solve problems.Related:Madeleine Wallace, founder and CEO of organizational and technological transformation consulting firm Windrose Vision and author of Thrive in the AI and Digital Age, also says non-technical employees need to grasp AI basics, including its strengths, limitations and ethical considerations, along with practical skills for tools like dashboards and AI platforms.From my perspective, data literacy is a mix of understanding AI and mastering tools to apply knowledge meaningfully in daily tasks, says Wallace. Embedding data tools into everyday workflows ensures employees engage with data naturally. Pairing this with hands-on, role-specific data projects brings learning to life.Kjell Carlsson, head of AI strategy at enterprise MLOps platform Domino Data Lab, believes in 2025, the most needed skill for leaders and employees is GenAI literacy.[GenAI literacy] is about mastering how to effectively use GenA) models to enhance their work, roles and productivity. [It] involves knowing how to find and understand information using GenAI tools; create content like text, images, and presentations; integrate GenAI outputs into daily workflows, and identify and correct hallucinations to ensure reliable results.However, GenAI literacy is not an evolution of data literacy, he says. Traditional data literacy -- analyzing and making decisions with data -- remains as vital as ever, especially since current GenAI tools are still nascent in handling structured enterprise data.Organizations should also avoid the misconception that fostering GenAI literacy alone will help developing GenAI solutions. For this, companies need even greater investments in expert AI talent -- data scientists, machine learning engineers, data engineers, developers and AI engineers, says Carlsson. While GenAI literacy empowers individuals across the workforce, building transformative AI capabilities requires skilled teams to design, fine-tune and operationalize these solutions. Companies must address both.Joe Depa, global chief innovation officer at business management consulting firm EY believes data literacy is a company-wide priority that can make or break an organization.Data literacy isnt fixed with workshops or an online training. Its baked into the innovation muscle of how your team operates day to day. Organizations should equip employees with AI dashboards that explain insights in simple, relatable language instead of overwhelming them with data overload, says Depa. Its also about building a culture [in which] using data to make decisions is part of the companys DNA. This includes creating an environment where its okay to test, make mistakes and learn together. Achieving this requires coordination between technology teams, security and business leaders to align workforce education with organizational goals.Why Data Literacy Training Isnt EnoughThe data literacy program itself influences a workforces ability to use data. According to Piyanka Jain, CEO at data analytics consulting firm Aryng, companies may train employees on statistics, machine learning and data visualization, but overlook professional skills like stakeholder collaboration and decision-making.In 2025, the focus [of data literacy] needs to shift. Its not about turning everyone into a data scientist. Its about enabling employees to deliver measurable business value using data -- and thats where the real challenges lie, says Jain.Organizations need to be mindful about and address cultural resistance, silos and outdated processes. They also need to recognize that AI and analytics tools are evolving so quickly that many employees cant keep up.Data literacy in 2025 cant just be about enabling employees to work with data. It needs to be about empowering them to drive real business value, says Jain. Thats how organizations will turn data into dollars and ensure their investments in technology and training actually pay off.Alejandro Manzocchi, Americas CTO at technology services company Endava also believes improving data literacy requires integrating it into the organizations culture and day-to-day workflows.Organizations should embed data tools into daily work, encouraging employees to rely on data when making decisions. For instance, ask teams to present data-backed reasoning for their proposals, says Manzocchi. To facilitate this approach, you could pair non-technical employees with data mentors to foster informal, task-based learning. Task forces that mix data experts with other team members can also be effective. And use engaging methods like trivia challenges, data hackathons or dedicated platforms to gamify the learning process. Ultimately, organizations must foster a culture of curiosity where asking data-driven questions is not only accepted but encouraged.Rohit Choudhary, AcceldataRohit Choudhary, founder & CEO at enterprise data observability company Acceldata, says data literacy needs to be a core job skill woven into everyday decision-making.This means understanding basic data types and quality metrics, interpreting common visualizations correctly, and recognizing the context and lineage behind any dataset to assess its reliability. It also involves translating insights into action, from spotting trends to asking the right questions about anomalies or biases, says Choudhary.Non-technical teams also need to be aware of privacy laws, ethical considerations (like data bias) and the principles of fair use. In addition, data professionals and non-data professionals need a shared language for discussing data-driven challenges and opportunities.Organizations can embed data literacy into daily operations and culture by making data-driven thinking a core part of every role, says Choudhary. Beyond formal training, this includes requiring teams to back decisions with data, providing intuitive dashboards for role-specific insights, and encouraging leadership to model data-centric behavior. Designating data champions in each department helps bridge technical and non-technical teams, while mentorship and recognition programs reward strong data use.He also says its important to Integrate data concepts into onboarding so new hires can see how data informs their specific responsibilities and that ongoing snackable learning opportunities keep everyones skills current. In addition, organizational leadership should share key metrics and success stories to encourage curiosity, so employees are empowered to explore data, question insights, and collaborate across functions to drive better outcomes.Looking ahead to 2025, data literacy will be a key driver of innovation and competitiveness. Over time, organizations may progress from literacy to fluency, where employees actively shape data-driven strategies rather than just consuming insights, says Choudhary. Those that foster transparency, accessibility and a culture of continuous learning in their data ecosystems will be best positioned to thrive in this new era.About the AuthorLisa MorganFreelance WriterLisa Morgan is a freelance writer who covers business and IT strategy and emergingtechnology for InformationWeek. She has contributed articles, reports, and other types of content to many technology, business, and mainstream publications and sites including tech pubs, The Washington Post and The Economist Intelligence Unit. Frequent areas of coverage include AI, analytics, cloud, cybersecurity, mobility, software development, and emerging cultural issues affecting the C-suite.See more from Lisa MorganNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports