Understanding AI: Perception and Utility

Nilay and David dig into the week's biggest story: the new Intel-powered Surface Pro. Kidding! They talk about DeepSeek, the out-of-nowhere AI company that sent both Silicon Valley and the stock market into uproar this week. Then, after the hosts debate what the real killer app for AI is — and whether we've even found one yet — we follow up on our question from last week about how people are actually using AI. We got so many good answers, and we talk through what to make of them all. Finally, in the lightning round, we talk about Brendan Carr being a dummy, the return of the Pebble, the continued rise of Bluesky and Threads, and Meta's $25 million check to Trump.

Further reading:

• Why everyone is freaking out about DeepSeek
• DeepSeek says its newest AI model, Janus-Pro can outperform Stable Diffusion and DALL-E 3.
• Microsoft makes DeepSeek’s R1 model available on Azure AI and GitHub
• OpenAI has evidence that its models helped train China’s DeepSeek
• China’s DeepSeek AI is hitting Nvidia where it hurts
• DeepSeek’s AI app is restricting sign-ups due to ‘malicious attacks’ 
• US Navy jumps the DeepSeek ship.
• DeepSeek wakes up Trump.
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on DeepSeek R1: “an impressive model.”
• Mark Zuckerberg tells Meta investors to not worry about DeepSeek
• The Pebble smartwatch is making a comeback, with some help from Google 
• Oracle and Microsoft are reportedly in talks to take over TikTok
• FCC chair says landlords can force bulk internet service on residents
• From NYT: F.C.C. Chair Orders Investigation Into NPR and PBS Sponsorships
• Meta agrees to pay $25 million to settle Trump account suspension suit
• Zuckerberg wants to Make Facebook Great Again
• Zuck wants to bring the “OG Facebook” back.

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