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What DeepSeek Means For The Future Of AI | Tech Veterans Weigh In
@ a16z
02/07/25
Takeaways
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The lesson is not about the 'Sputnik moment' but about the internet and how it relates to the AI race.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
DeepSeek represents a significant step towards achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) in a more accessible form.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The AI race mirrors the historical space race, and we need to ensure we win this race as well.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
DeepSeek's release took the world by surprise, despite a year and a half of buildup and research behind it.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The rapid rise of DeepSeek has raised questions about how they achieved such compatibility and capabilities with existing models.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The cost of developing DeepSeek was reported to be around $5 million, which sparked discussions about its significance.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
DeepSeek's release has led to a frenzy in the market, with significant reactions from investors and the tech community.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The traditional large language models (LLMs) were perceived to be stagnating, but DeepSeek's release has injected new life into the field.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
DeepSeek's reasoning model, R1, is generating excitement for its potential to drive down compute costs and improve efficiency.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The release of DeepSeek's reasoning traces is significant as it allows for better training of smaller models quickly and cheaply.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
DeepSeek's permissive open-source license is expected to lead to widespread adoption and proliferation of its model.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The reasoning model of DeepSeek allows for deeper answers by thinking through the steps of a problem, which was not released with previous models like OpenAI's.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
DeepSeek's approach of releasing their model without a direct business model contrasts with other companies still trying to figure out their revenue strategies.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The AI landscape is evolving, and the licensing model for different layers of AI technology will become increasingly important for standardization.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The AI community in the U.S. may have lost sight of the importance of licensing models, focusing too much on monetizing initial breakthroughs instead of the broader implications.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The model itself may not be the primary focus; instead, the integration of models into applications could dictate their relevance in the market.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The DeepSeek phenomenon may not be as impactful as people think, depending on whether the focus is on application layers or the models themselves.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The trajectory of AI development is likely to mirror the internet's evolution, where initially, building a single app seemed daunting, but new applications emerged that didn't rely on existing platforms.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
Many people mistakenly believe that large language models will replace search engines, but this transition will be challenging due to the unique functions that search engines perform.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
A new application will eventually emerge that integrates various functionalities, similar to how Google Maps and Chrome evolved from search.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The apps that will matter in the AI landscape are likely to be those that don't exist yet, just as the internet gave rise to entirely new applications.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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Investors today are focusing on building physical infrastructure like data centers, similar to how they invested in fiber infrastructure during the internet boom.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The current AI wave is supported by a stronger financial foundation compared to the internet's early days, with major cloud companies having substantial resources.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The AI landscape is different from the past because the primary investors are established cloud companies with strong financial backing, reducing the risk of a market crash similar to the fiber glut.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The shift from scaling up to scaling out in technology means moving towards more distributed computing, which allows for greater accessibility and lower costs.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The emergence of specialized AI models will enable new applications to thrive, similar to how JavaScript transformed web browsers by allowing for more dynamic functionalities.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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We need to shift our benchmarks for evaluating AI models beyond just parameters and coding tests to include practical applications and cost-effectiveness.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The metrics that truly matter in research applications are based on the truthfulness of the information provided, rather than just generative capabilities.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
@ a16z
The future of AI will likely involve developing numerous routine tests to assess the truthfulness of generated content, similar to how image recognition evolved.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The current AI models are impressive on their own, but they need to be integrated into applications that enhance user engagement and retention.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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Defensible AI companies will create compelling models and then build applications around them that require user configuration and engagement.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The last two years have been dominated by large AI models, which have proven to be popular and effective, but we are now entering an era focused on complex workflows around these models.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The creativity in application development is crucial for differentiation in the market, and companies must embrace this to succeed.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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To gain adoption in enterprise settings, applications must be tailored to meet specific needs, including features like single sign-on.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The biggest takeaway from the DeepSeek phenomenon is that previous AI policies have been misguided, focusing too much on restrictions rather than fostering innovation.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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China has demonstrated that it can produce competitive AI technologies despite export controls, highlighting the need for the U.S. to invest in its own research capabilities.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The lesson from the DeepSeek moment is not just about competition but about enabling creativity and innovation in technology development.
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02/07/25
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The rapid diffusion of technology today means that the barriers to entry for new innovations are lower than ever, making it essential to embrace this change.
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a16z Cast
02/07/25
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The excitement around AI innovations is palpable, and we should focus on building rather than restricting these advancements.