Why is DeepSeek a game changer in the history of Artificial Intelligence?

We are facing a historic moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI). The Chinese startup DeepSeek has just surprised the world by launching a language model that, with an investment of just US$5.6 million, has become the most downloaded application globally, surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The impact was so significant that it generated a “domino effect” in American big tech companies, resulting in the largest drop in market value in history for a technology company: Nvidia lost US$589 billion in a single day.

In over 25 years of following the technology market, I have rarely seen a change as disruptive as this one. The DeepSeek case is being compared to the “Sputnik moment,” when the Soviet Union surpassed the United States in the space race – an analogy that demonstrates the magnitude of this transformation in the global AI scenario.

But what makes DeepSeek so revolutionary? Let’s look at the main aspects:

• Operates in 69 languages, offering an impressive variety of interactions
• It cost a fraction of the billions invested by American companies
• It demonstrated that it is possible to compete in AI even without access to the most advanced chips

However, as I always warn in my AI consultancies, it is essential to maintain a critical eye. DeepSeek still presents important challenges:

• Possibility of errors in the generated content
• Privacy issues related to the collection of user data
• Concerns about sharing this information

In parallel with this disruptive scenario, the Vatican today released an important note on AI through the document “Antiqua et nova”. The text reinforces a point that I always defend in my lectures: AI should be seen as a complementary tool to human intelligence, not as its replacement.

In my experience supporting startups and large companies in their innovation strategies, I have observed that real success comes from the intelligent combination of technology and human capital. The DeepSeek case is no different: its success lies not only in the technology, but in the way it was designed to meet the real needs of users.

What can we expect from here? This is a transformative moment that goes far beyond the competition between the United States and China. We are seeing a redistribution of global technological power that will have profound impacts on how we develop and use AI.

For Brazilian companies and entrepreneurs, this is an especially important time to rethink strategies. The message is clear: it is possible to create competitive AI solutions even with limited resources, as long as there is focus and efficiency in execution.

If your company is looking to understand how to position itself in this new AI landscape, I can help. In addition to strategic consulting, I offer specific mentoring for startups and digital transformation programs for established companies. Get in touch to talk about how to make the most of these changes in the global AI landscape.