Quantum computing remains something of a holy grail in the world of technology: it promises a huge leap in computing power, but only if someone can figure out how to square away the fault rates that prevent any scaling of the tech. Now, one of the more promising quantum startups in Europe is announcing a big round of funding to help it work towards a solution.Alice&Bob, a Paris startup that is a pioneer in the area of cat qubit quantum architecture, has raised 100 million ($104 million). It plans to use this Series B to continue work towards building a fault tolerant quantum computer accepting errors and working around them based on cat qubits, a concept that the startup has been chipping away at for years already. Alice&Bob believes its first useful quantum computer will be available by 2030.From the get go, Alice & Bob had a very clear vision of how quantum computers should be made [and] it was all about fault tolerance, said CEO and co-founder Thau Peronnin in an interview. What weve seen in the whole industry over the last 12 to 18 months is really a complete shift to align with our vision.The appetite for more computing power is at the highest it has ever been a belief underscored by major projects like the $500 billion Stargate AI data center commitment in the U.S. and the huge boost that computing chip makers like Nvidia have seen in recent times.As Peronnin sees it, traditional computing architecture is a race that is untenable in the longer run, and that that will be the driver for more investment and work in building quantum computers, with their promise of more efficiency over even the most cutting-edge traditional processors.Computing is becoming the core resource for productivity, and quantum is a potential game changer here, he said. The game is on.The investment is co-led by Qatari-backed Future French Champions (FFC), AVP (AXA Venture Partners) and Bpifrance, which also co-led its Series A of $30 million in 2022. While the startup is not disclosing valuation, for some guidance, Riverlane (a partner of Alice&Bobs) was valued last year at around $400 million and we understand from multiple sources that Alice&Bob is at a comparable valuation, more likely between $300 million and $400 million.The deal represents one of the larger rounds for a quantum computing startup in Europe, and notably for the quantum industry, its not happening in a vacuum.Some of the more notable fundraises have included in August 2024, Riverlane, which also builds technology to correct quantum errors, raising $75 million; quantum chip maker SEEQC raising $30 million earlier this month; and Quantum Machines out of Israel reportedly also in the process of raising $100 million.And perhaps the biggest of all, last year, Quantinuum (a spinout of Honeywell that merged with Cambridge Quantum), raised $300 million in equity at a $5 billion valuation. There is now talk of it listing at a $10 billion valuation.Meanwhile, Google had a breakthrough in the fault-removal race in November 2024 with AlphaQubit, an AI system that it said could automatically identify (yet still not fix) errors in quantum computations. And Microsoft and Atom Computing promised they would release a commercial quantum computer sometime this year.The startups name and the cat qubit are both key to what it is building. Alice&Bob is a reference to the two fictional characters that are often used asarchetypesfor hypothetical thought experiments in areas like cryptography and quantum physics.The building block of Alice&Bobs system also has a theoretical reference in it. Rather than pursuing ways to reduce faults by throwing more qubits at the problem (qubits being the typical building block of a quantum computing system), Alice&Bob devised an architecture that it calls a cat qubit. This is a reference toSchrdingers catand the idea of something being in two states at once. Effectively, it accepts some faults (hence fault tolerant) while fixing others.As Peronnin describes it, Cat qubit is a special kind of design of qubit that is meant to correct errors directly at the hardware level not all of them, half of them, to be precise, but that is really the result of the cat qubit. Its to have this first layer of built-in error correction. And the reason why we went for that is because we believed it would dramatically simplify the total machine.Alice&Bobs investors believe that this could be the key to making quantum into a commercial reality.Reality is at the core of our debate about quantum in the investment industry, Francois Robinet, a partner at AVP, said in an interview. He said that while he has been watching Alice&Bob for years, AVP hadnt wanted to invest before because it was just R&D like so many others. But now, he said, with quantum chip architecture appearing to be capable of supporting 48 qubits, we believe the R&D phase is over.Francois Charbonnier, a partner at Bpifrance, seconds this, Getting rid one of two major errors as Alice&Bob is doing, is the game changer for scaling, he said. Of course, its still a long-term marathon, but we are convinced that Alice&Bob will be in the race.

Breakdown & ShowreelsGladiator II: Creating the Colosseum by ILMBy Vincent Frei - 28/01/2025 The Colosseum returns to life! Watch as ILM transforms the legendary amphitheater into a living, breathing spectacle for Gladiator II. With impressive visual effects, this behind-the-scenes journey unveils how history meets epic storytelling!WANT TO KNOW MORE?ILM: Dedicated page about Gladiator II on ILM website.Mark Bakowski: Heres my interview of Production VFX Supervisor Mark Bakowski. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

Secretariat Building in Chandigarh | East Med Wanderer, Flickr UserAfter Indias independence in 1947, Chandigarh was planned as a new administrative capital for Punjab, intended to represent modernization and progress. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus directive was to create a functional and forward-looking city. Le Corbusier was commissioned to design the master plan, including the Capitol Complex, which houses the Secretariat, the High Court, and the Legislative Assembly.Secretariat Building Technical InformationArchitects1-6: Le CorbusierLocation: Chandigarh, IndiaClient: Government of IndiaArea: 220,000m2 | 2.4 millionSq. Ft.Project Year: 1953 1959Photographs: See Caption DetailsChandigarh is free from the routine of the past. It is a city of today and of tomorrow. Le CorbusierSecretariat in Chandigarh PhotographsExterior View | Brian Hunter, Flickr UserFacade | Julia Zorich, Flickr UserAerial | Michel Richard, Flickr UserFacade | FLCFacade | Personne de Chandigarh, Flickr User Personne de Chandigarh, Flickr User Doctor Casino, Flickr User Scott Norsworthy, Flickr UserRooftop | Doctor Casino, Flickr User Scott Larsen, Flickr UserSecretariat Building in Chandigarh Architectural LanguageThe Secretariat is the largest building in the Capitol Complex, designed as the main administrative office for the government. The project follows modernist urban planning principles, emphasizing order, functionality, and efficiency. It reflects Le Corbusiers Unit dHabitation concept, adapted for an office building with a linear, rectilinear form and modular faade.Constructed primarily of reinforced concrete, the building follows Brutalist aesthetics, with an exposed raw materiality that aligns with Le Corbusiers philosophy of honest structural expression. Its modular grid system, with alternating solid and open sections, responds to both functional and environmental considerations, following his Modulor system for human-scaled proportioning.A key feature of the Secretariat is its brise-soleil (sun-shading system)deep concrete louvers designed to reduce direct sunlight and heat gain, improving thermal comfort while maintaining natural ventilation. This strategy helps adapt the building to Chandigarhs extreme climate, characterized by hot summers and cold winters.The structure is elevated on pilotis, a common feature in Le Corbusiers architecture, allowing for open circulation at the ground level and improving ventilation and temperature regulation. The roofscape is used as a functional space, featuring large-scale brise-vent (windbreak) structures to regulate air movement.Internally, the Secretariat consists of large, open office spaces connected by long corridors that facilitate movement. The structural grid ensures flexibility, allowing for modifications in office layouts based on administrative needs.Scale, Functionality, and Material PerformanceThe Secretariats scale dominates its surroundings. While designed for efficiency, its size creates challenges for navigation. Long corridors and uniform spaces contribute to an environment that can feel monotonous. The buildings monumentality, while architecturally significant, does not always support ease of use for those working inside.The Secretariat influenced later government buildings in India, particularly those adopting modernist and Brutalist principles. It reflects a shift in architectural priorities toward efficiency and large-scale planning. The work of Indian architects such as B.V. Doshi shows an evolution of these ideas, incorporating a greater sensitivity to climate and culture.The buildings strengths lie in its structural clarity and climate-adaptive design elements. However, its limitations raise questions about the human experience of large-scale government architecture. The rigid modernist approach to planning does not always align with contemporary concerns about adaptability and social interaction. The Secretariat remains an important case study in how architectural ideals are translated into built form and the practical consequences of those decisions.Secretariat in Chandigarh PlansElevation | Le CorbusierGround Level | Le CorbusierFloor Plan | Le CorbusierFloor Plan | Le CorbusierSecretariat in Chandigarh Image GalleryAbout Le CorbusierLe Corbusier, born Charles-douard Jeanneret-Gris in Switzerland, was one of the most influential architects of the 20th century and a key figure in the development of modernist architecture and urban planning. His architectural philosophy, encapsulated in the Five Points of Architecture, emphasized functionality, open plans, and modern materials like concrete and steel. He championed urban planning principles based on rational design and efficiency, as seen in his Ville Radieuse (Radiant City) concept. Le Corbusiers work ranged from private villas to large-scale housing projects and government buildings, with Chandigarh, India, standing as one of his most ambitious urban planning projects. Credits and Additional NotesChief Architect: Le CorbusierAssociate Architects: Pierre Jeanneret, Jane Drew, Maxwell FryIndian Collaborators: M.N. Sharma, Aditya Prakash, and othersBuilding Height: Approx. 55 meters (180 feet)Structural System: Reinforced Concrete Frame

Justin Spaulding and his wife, Sarah (Cooley) Spaulding erected this house on Springfield Street in Chicopee, Massachusetts, in 1886, and would later be known for their philanthropic gifts to their home city. Justin Spaulding (1838-1906) was a wealthy grocer who amassed a small fortune operating stores in the industrial Lower Pioneer Valley. The Spaulding House is one of the finest Queen Anne style buildings in Chicopee, and is notable for its asymmetrical form, tower, ornate gable detailing, porches with original balustrade, and the chimney with inlaid terracotta tiles. Justin Spaulding died in 1906, and Sarah C. Spaulding (1840-1907) would pass away a year later. They had no children. In her will, Sarah bequeathed funds for the first purpose-built library in Chicopee and money for a memorial chapel in a local cemetery. The Spaulding House was acquired by the Academy of Our Lady of the Elms (now Elms College), moved to its present location in 1920, and was converted to the Office of Admissions for the College. Besides the need for a new coat of paint, the house is lovingly preserved!

Following last weekends introduction of the latest large language model (LLM) from DeepSeek, ChatGPTs new artificial intelligence (AI) rival has topped the Apple App Store for iPhone downloads.The DeepSeek R1 LLM is open source and uses reasoning combined with what the company calls cold start data, which means that rather than trawling the internet and social media sites to amass vast quantities of machine learning data, it relies instead on reinforced learning to improve accuracy.On its GitHub page, the developers of DeepSeek describe R1 as a large-scale reinforcement learning on the base model. We directly apply reinforcement learning to the base model without relying on supervised fine-tuning as a preliminary step, it says. This approach allows the model to explore chain-of-thought for solving complex problems.An estimated 2.1 million searches for DeepSeek were recorded over the weekend, with at least 1.6 million of these on Sunday 26 January alone. This is 12.3% of ChatGPTs 13 million searches in the same timeframe.Along with taking a different approach to ChatGPT, the interest in DeepSeek is also being driven by competitive pricing and the fact that the code is open source.While OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, charges $2.50 per million input tokens for its GPT-4o model, DeepSeek is priced at $0.14 per million input tokens in situations where the AI engine is able to draw on previously cached information. Non-cached inputs are priced at $0.55 per million tokens.The extent of interest in the AI from the Chinese firmresulted in turmoil in the valuation of tech stocks in the US. Reuters reported that Nvidia saw its share price drop 17%, which effectively wiped $593bn off its market valuation.In a speech on Monday, US president Donald Trump described DeepSeek as a wake-up call for the US tech sector.Among the numerous subjects Trump spoke about in his speech to Republican party members of Congress were the executive orders revoking the AI regulations introduced under former president Joe Biden. We dont want to have any future president ever sabotage our economy with out-of-control regulations, he said. Last week I signed an order revoking Joe Bidens destructive artificial intelligence regulations so that AI companies can once again focus on being the best, not just being the most woke.He then referenced DeepSeek as he continued talking about why deregulation is important for AI in the US. Today and over the last couple of days Ive been reading about China and [one Chinese company] in particular coming up with a faster method of AI and a much less expensive method. Hopefully the release of DeepSeek AI from a Chinese company should be a wake-up call for our industries that we need to be laser-focused on competing to win.DeepSeeks developers have been able to combine cutting-edge algorithms to slash the energy demands of AI training and deployment. In his speech, Trump described what DeepSeek had achieved as good, since companies aiming to develop AI applications that use DeepSeek do not have to spend as much money compared with rival LLMs. I view that as a positive, as an asset, he added.Commenting on what the rise of DeepSeek has meant to financial markets, Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at investment platform Saxo, pointed out that DeepSeek took only two months to develop and less than $6m to build, using reduced-capability chips from Nvidia called H800s. This is significant given that the Biden administration banned the export of high-end Nvidia graphics processors (GPUs) to China in 2023.US tech companies are trading at premium valuations, with major AI players like Nvidia, Microsoft and Alphabet commanding forward P/E [price to earnings] multiples far above historical averages, she said. With these stocks priced for perfection, even minor disruptions, such as DeepSeek proving advanced AI can be built without top-tier chips, could weigh heavily on share prices. For Nvidia, in particular, its role as a key supplier of AI chips makes it vulnerable if demand for its high-end products wanes.Read more about LLM power usage and pricingHow to stop AI costs from soaring: Generative AI promises to improve business efficiency, but Gartner has found many projects are failing to get beyond pilot roll-outs.Developing AI datacentres: Has the UK government got what it takes: The UK government has unveiled its 50-point AI action plan, which commits to building sovereign artificial intelligence capabilities and accelerating AI datacentre developments - but questions remain about the viability of the plans.The idea of lower-cost and more energy-efficient AI coming from DeepSeek appears to have an immediate impact both on the US tech giants and the energy sector, which has been banking on the growth of AI-fuelled power consumption.DeepSeeks breakthrough signals a shift toward efficiency in AI, which will redefine both energy and AI markets, said Nigel Green, the CEO of global financial advisory giant DeVere Group. The opportunities for investors willing to act now are enormous.This challenges the assumption that AIs growth is tied to ever-increasing energy consumption. While the market is reacting to short-term uncertainty, efficiency-driven AI models will expand adoption into new markets and industries.This means more widespread use, deeper integration and, ultimately, sustained demand for energy solutions.Arguably, its the fact that DeepMind has been able to achieve results using inferior hardware and offer its LLM at a highly competitive price that is set to change every organisations approach to AI: it doesnt necessarily require throwing vast amounts of costly GPUs at the hardware and having to recoup these costs by charging end users a premium.By developing cutting-edge generative AI models without relying on the latest, most expensive hardware, DeepSeek has demonstrated that agility and strategy can outpace raw computational power, said Kjell Carlsson, head of AI strategy at Domino Data Lab. Their achievements also highlight the vulnerability of incumbents in the generative AI space proving that open-source innovation continues to be a powerful equaliser, enabling challengers to match and even surpass established players years into the revolution.What all this means is that DeepSeek signifies Chinese competition to Silicon Valleys existing AI models. Michael Guan, CEO of Final Round AI, said the pricing model is profitable, unlike models that many other AI organisations offer. Its code is also open source, he added. This is very unconventional, as companies tend to keep the code behind their latest models a closely guarded secret.

ZDNETFacebook has not been making friendslately with its policy changes. While some people have left, others find it hard to leave. It's where their friends and social groups -- from old co-workers to church members to fellow sufferers of obscure diseases -- are.Also: The best data removal services in 2025: Delete yourself from the internetIn addition, Meta, Facebook's parent company, tracks your activity not just on Facebook, but across the internet with Meta's tracking pixel. If you'd rather not have Big Zucker looking over your shoulder, here's what you can do to limit how much Meta can track you.Facebook has been collecting data on you for yearsBefore getting into protecting your privacy, you should know what data Facebook has already been collecting data on you for years. Besides the obvious -- your name and that you liked Aunt Jodie's funny cat picture -- companies that useFacebook Business Tools, such asFacebook Pixel, theFacebook Software Development Kit (SDK), and Facebook Login and Account Kit, also share what they know about you with Facebook.Specifically, Meta tracks when you're:Opening an appLogging into an app with FacebookViewing contentSearching for an itemAdding an item to a shopping cartMaking a purchaseMaking a donationWhen you've been naughty or niceOK, I made up the last one, but when you use Facebook, you really are giving up your privacy in ways that would make Santa Claus envious. Don't believe it? According to theElectronic Frontier Foundation (EFF),Facebook tracks you on 30% of the top 10,000 websites. On my own account, I see that Facebook and its partners have data on me from 955 apps and websites that I've used or visited in the last 180 days.That includes every time I checked myRing doorbell, the time I checked StubHub for WVU-Kansas basketball tickets, and how often I checked intoZillowwhen searching for a new home. And, of course, what sites I visit daily.Also: What is DuckDuckGo? If you're into online privacy, try this popular Google alternativeAlso keep in mind that things that sound like they help, such asclearing your Facebook history, may not help at all. Clearing your history, for example, doesn't delete anything. Instead, all it does is disconnect your activity history from your account. Meta will continue to receive your activity from the businesses and organizations you visit in the future.The only real way out is todelete your Facebook account. But even then, Facebook says it will take up to 90 days to remove all your data. It may take longer. Much longer. In any case, Meta doesn't spell out what it does with your activity history.What doesn't workYou can turn off, sort of, the data Facebook and its partners share about you. But, even then, Facebook says: "We'll still receive activity from whatever site. It may be used to measure and improve their ads, but it will be disconnected from your account." (You can believe Facebook if you like, but I'm inclined to doubt it.)Next, simply putting a post on your page that claims to be alegal notice forbidding Metafrom using your personal data and photos won't help you a bit. No, I don't care who told you that this would work. It doesn't. Never has, never will.Also: Stop exposing your Venmo activity - by changing this privacy setting. Here's whySo, what can you do? Well, first things first. Facebook has a bad habit of changing its menus. If the specific suggestions below don't work for you, use the Facebook search function to find the settings you're looking for.Don't share public posts - it's dangerous ZDNETYou should be careful about what you share in the first place. If you really don't want people to know your favorite TV show is Happy Days, don't post about Richie Cunningham and The Fonz. That's a silly example, but I trust you get my point.Also: Why you don't need to pay for antivirus software anymoreRelated to this, if you're comfortable with, say, your friends knowing you won't be going to Great-Uncle Jack's fifth wedding but not the world at large, use the "Post audience" to restrict the people who can see your post to your friends or even more restricted groups, not the public.Adjust your default privacy settings for postsIndeed, unless you want everyone and anyone to see what you're up to, you should set your Facebook postings to always be for friends only. To do this, take the following steps:Open the Facebook app or website.Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.Navigate to Privacy Center.Go to Common Privacy Settings.Head to Manage Audience Settings.Find "Who can see your future posts?"Change this setting to "Friends."This ensures that all your future posts will be visible only to your friends by default.Change the privacy of your existing public or friends-of-friends postsWhat's that? You got years' worth of public posts that you'd rather not have public? Well, you can fix that too:In the Privacy settings, locate Limit Past Posts.Click on Limit Old Posts.Confirm your choice.This action will change all your past public and friends-of-friends posts to be visible only to friends.It's not just Joe Random Snooper you need to worry about. Meta makes it easy for the company and its partners to use your information for anyone who uses its application programming interfaces (APIs), such as itsGraph API, itsResearch Tools, and, of course, Facebook can use all your public data forAI at Meta.What else can you do to get Meta out of your hair? ZDNETYou can control what you post and who sees it, but controlling what other people post about you is much harder.Take charge of who can tag youOne thing you can do, though, is take some control of the posts and images you're tagged in. To do this, take the following steps:Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.In the left column, click Profile and Tagging.Click next to Review posts you're tagged in before the post appears on your profile? to turn this setting on or off.This only controls, however, whether you allow their posts to show up on your profile.You can (and should) also block usersTo stop someone from tagging you at all, you need to block them using these steps:Switch to the profile that you want to use.Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.In the left column, under Audience and Visibility, click Blocking.In the Block Users section, click Edit.Click Add to Blocked List.Type the name of the profile you want to block.Click Block next to their name.Click Confirm.How to control your Facebook apps ZDNETFacebook apps, yes, even the FarmVille game you downloaded years ago, can spy on you. To control them and eliminate the ones you don't use, head over toFacebook's App Settings. Here, you can see the Facebook apps, games, and websites you've connected to your Facebook account. To control these, do the following:Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.Click Apps and Websites in the left side menu.Scroll down to Preferences, then next to Apps, websites, and games, click Turn Off for each one.Or, instead of cherry-picking and disabling Facebook apps, you can choose to completely disable the Facebook app platform. This means you won't be able to use Facebook integrations on third-party apps or websites that access data throughOAuth. This should cut down on the information you've been sharing with Meta.How to manage your off-Facebook activity ZDNETYou can also control how much of your information you're sharing with Meta's partners by going to theOff-Facebook Activity (OFA) page. To view this page, you may need to enter your Facebook password.Once there, to see exactly what each one is up to in general terms, click on the ones you're concerned about. Since you probably have hundreds of them, I doubt you'll want to go through all of them.However, to quote Meta, "We receive more details and activity than what appears here."Remember to turn off future activityFrom the Manage Your Off-Facebook Activity page, toward the bottom of the display, you can Turn off Future Activity. Again, that doesn't stop either Facebook or the company from getting your data; it just breaks, in theory, the connection between your Facebook identity and your data.Also: Why you should power off your phone once a week - according to the NSAYou're not done yet. Head back once more toManage Your Off-Facebook Activity. There, click on More Options in the right-hand column. Once that's done, toward the bottom of the column, you'll see a link to Manage Future Activity. Click on it, and you'll get another window with a button for, once again, Manage Future Activity.From here, you get an option: "Your future off-Facebook activity saved with your account allows us to personalize your experience." If you turn this off, you'll more permanently break the connection between your account and everyone else. If you do this, you should know before doing this that you'll no longer be able to use Facebook to log into third-party websites.At the end of all this, Facebook and friends will still be spying on you, but at least they'll be seeing through a dark glass instead of looking right at you.The Meta-nuclear option ZDNETIf you decide you want to get rid of Facebook once and for all, you can start by deactivating Facebook. This closes down your use of Facebook, but you can always come back to it. Unless you are absolutely sure you want to leave Facebook for good, I recommend deactivating it for a while to see if you'd miss it before deleting it forever.Delete or deactivate FacebookYou take the same steps to do either one. These are:Open the Facebook app or access Facebook through a web browser.Tap or click on your profile picture in the top right corner.Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.In the left menu, click on Your Facebook Information or Accounts Center.Select Personal Details under Account Settings.Click on Account Ownership and Control.Choose Deactivation or Deletion. If you deactivate it, you can always come back and bring it back again.Select the account or profile you want to delete.Click on Delete Account and then Continue.You may be asked to enter your password to confirm your identity.Optionally, you can select a reason for leaving Facebook.Review your options, which may includedownloading your information. Click Delete Account to confirm. Your account will be scheduled for permanent deletion after a 30-day grace period. During the grace period, you can log back in to cancel the deletion if you change your mind.This is the only way out of Facebook that will truly protect your privacy. I know that's easier said than done, but it's the only way to be sure. Even then, however, Meta will keep its eye on you.Meta admits to keeping your data around for 90 days, but a recent security study found that Meta will keep all your data for 180 days. Still, it's truly your only option if you're fed up with Meta and want out. Good luck.Featured Editorial standards

Govee's new Neon Rope Light 2 makes it easy to decorate your home and it has quickly become a staple in my household.

At the end of the day, ensuring the quality of your data (in this case, accurate email open rates) can only lead to great things.

(Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAnother day, another Chinese app makes it to number one on US app stores. In this case, the Chinese AI firm Deepseeks recently released large language model (LLM) topped the charts on Monday, knocking out ChatGPT.The company managed to make the rival LLM on a much lower budgetand without Nvidias most advanced chips, which the US Commerce Department has cut them off from. Deepseek researchers wrote that they used Nvidia's H800 chip for training purposes and spent $6 million. (On Friday, Zuckerburg announced Meta would be spending $60 billion on ramping up its AI infrastructure in 2025.)This feat casts doubt on America's data center buildout strategy epitomized most recently by the victory lap CEOs from OpenAI and SoftBank, plus Trump, took on day two of the new administration in announcing the Stargate project. The initiative will deploy $500 billion over the next four years to build compute infrastructure, and was in motion before Trump took office.But the Deepseek story offers a bigger lesson, if were willing to learn it: decoupling isn't working, and American users are a big part of the problem. US consumers are accustomed to chasing the best products at the best prices. That instinct, nurtured most explicitly by free market Republicans, is working against hawkish China policies.Earlier this month, when TikTok users turned to the Chinese app Xiaohongshu (or RedNote), we saw a popular rejection of banning an app because it's Chinese. National security doesn't resonate for the average young person the way it does for the average congressperson.In Deepseek, we're seeing a similar rejection of a US-imposed ban, but this time the interest is less of a protest vote and more of an old-fashioned market disruptionone that flies in the face of Washingtons efforts to cut China off from advanced technology. Were getting a close-up of what that looks like, since this Chinese companys success is perceptible in Americas stock market and app stores.Yet Deepseeks distance from US users might be part of its appeal. Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman's hyper-visibility, especially of late, can't be an unfettered boon for their AI products. It is difficult to proudly support billionaires who keep sticking their necks out, especially when eggs are $7.The startup, which is only a year and a half old, also touts an open-source approach, which appeals to some users (probably especially early adopters). That view is likely what motivated Meta to make its AI tools open source. Other American AI firms, like Google and the ironically-titled OpenAI, remain closed.The attitude underlying the instinct to hold ones cards close to the chest pairs well with the scale, baby, scale attitude among executives like Altman. Framing advancing AI as generally necessary, without providing explanation or specificity, betrays an evident hubris when held up to even modest examination.A similar nationwide arrogance motivates cutting China off from the most advanced US-made chips. It portrays a sense that only we can create what society needs from AI and distribute it, vaguely ethically, to them. Per OpenAIs Stargate notice, the company looks forward to continuing to build and develop AIand in particular AGIfor the benefit of all of humanity. In the meantime, everyone else should just follow the stock prices and the hype they instill.Deepseek managed to undercut many of performance-based assumptions over the last few weeks, but its achievements didnt become headline news until American user adoption skyrocketed and Nvidia stocks plummeted.While some observers are undoubtedly amused by a Chinese companys ability to burst Silicon Valleys (and Washington, D.C.s) bubble, Deepseek is not immune from chasing the same lofty goals (the company was founded with the express mission of realizing artificial general intelligence).Yet Deepseek founder Liang Wenfangs success in furthering these plans with relatively little amounts of pomp, circumstance, and funding compared to his US peers still looks, from the outside, like an underdog story. That has universal appeal, even if its not quite accurate.The firms American policy and technology communities, both of which have repeatedly pledged mind-boggling financial support for American-made AI, could learn something from an observation Liang made over the summer: More investment does not necessarily lead to more innovation.

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.