Tyler Cowen, an economics professor and AI expert, joins Geoffrey Cain, a specialist on China and author of "The Perfect Police State," to unravel the recent AI rivalry sparked by China's DeepSeek. They discuss how this unexpected competitor emerged, challenging U.S. dominance despite restrictions on technology export. The conversation highlights potential national security threats, the complexities of trade, and the implications of AI on higher education. They argue for more dialogue amidst rising tensions as America navigates the shifting landscape of AI innovation.
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insights INSIGHT
DeepSeek's Impact
DeepSeek is a fast, fun, and open-source AI model from China.
It's not as good as OpenAI's products, but its accessibility makes it impactful.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early DeepSeek Experience
Tyler Cowen used DeepSeek before it became major news due to his involvement in AI chat groups.
He found it charming, poetic, and better at fiction than American models, but restricted regarding Chinese politics.
insights INSIGHT
China's Playbook
DeepSeek leverages existing US technologies and refines them incrementally for better execution, cost, and ease of use.
This allows them to compete by catching up and overtaking US advancements.
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In "The Perfect Police State," Geoffrey Cain delves into the intricate relationship between technology and authoritarianism. The book examines how technological advancements are utilized by governments to enhance surveillance and control over their populations. Cain explores the ethical implications of these technologies and their potential impact on individual liberties. He analyzes specific case studies to illustrate the insidious ways in which technology can be weaponized to suppress dissent and maintain power. The book serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of unchecked technological progress in the hands of authoritarian regimes.
Demons
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Demons, also known as The Possessed or The Devils, is a novel that critiques the political and moral nihilism prevalent in Russia during the 1860s. The story is set in a fictional town that descends into chaos due to an attempted revolution orchestrated by Pyotr Verkhovensky. The novel focuses on Nikolai Stavrogin, a mysterious and charismatic figure, and explores themes of ideology, murder, and the psychological and moral implications of atheism. It was inspired by a real political murder in 1869 and combines elements of satire, philosophical inquiry, and psychological insight to depict how destructive ideas can influence individuals and society[2][3][5].
Two weeks ago, America thought it was leading the AI race. Then out of nowhere, an unknown Chinese start-up turned the American stock market—and that assumption—on its head. DeepSeek, a Chinese company founded less than two years ago, released a free AI chatbot that rivals the most advanced available open AI products. And they did it despite America’s prohibition on shipping our most advanced microchips to China.
America was caught flat-footed, asking how did this happen? And could we actually lose this tech war?
Honestly with Bari Weiss 
