🐺 Breakthrough or Betrayal: What's Really Behind Deepseek?

Happy Thursday! It feels like this past week has been DeepSeek, DeepSeek, DeepSeek. Meanwhile, I’m deeply seeking a reason to believe this isn’t just a headline-grabber for the industry.

I guess time will tell.

Let’s dive in, here are the top AI developments from the past week you don’t want to miss:

📰 What’s Trending?

DeepSeek Shakes Up AI Market
Chinese startup DeepSeek just dropped an AI model that rivals top U.S. systems—at a fraction of the cost… or so they say. As the battle for AI dominance intensifies, DeepSeek is under fire for allegedly using proprietary data from OpenAI to build its own model. On top of that, the startup has more Nvidia chips than it originally reported, adding fuel to the fire.

Is DeepSeek a Trojan Horse for Data?
DeepSeek is stirring up some serious concerns after revealing it stores user data in China, raising questions about data privacy and security. Experts are worried that this could expose U.S. businesses to compliance headaches and surveillance risks, especially given China’s strict data laws. The US Navy has already been banned from using the app.

Alibaba Fires Back with Qwen 2.5
Alibaba just dropped its Qwen 2.5 model, touting it as superior to DeepSeek’s R1. The race to AI supremacy in China is heating up, with both companies battling for top-tier performance while keeping costs low.

Microsoft Cashes In on AI
While AI stocks wobble, Microsoft posted strong earnings, proving that AI investments—at least for now—are still paying off.

Apple’s AI Turns Itself On
The latest iOS update quietly auto-enables Apple Intelligence, and not everyone’s thrilled. While Apple says it boosts Siri and notifications, privacy-conscious users are scrambling to switch it off.

📖 Marketer’s Playbook

One of the most common tactics marketers rely on is email segmentation. Whether you’re sending a newsletter, a special offer, or a product update, breaking your audience into smaller, more targeted groups helps increase relevance, open rates, and conversions.

• Segment based on behaviors (like past purchases or site visits), demographics (age, location), or engagement (open rates, clicks).

• Tailor the content for each segment. A personalized email feels more relevant and less like spam—this can make a huge difference in your response rates.

The hack: Automate the segmentation process using AI-powered tools (like Klaviyo or Loops). These tools analyze your audience’s behaviors in real time and automatically create smart segments based on actions like clicking a link or abandoning a cart. By setting this up once, you save hours every week that would otherwise be spent manually sorting your lists.

So, stop wasting time manually managing your email lists and let the AI do the heavy lifting. Your future self will thank you.

💡 Smart Moves

Talk Your Way Through Ideas with Wisprflow.ai

Wisprflow.ai is a speech-to-text tool that’s truly worth using. Whether you’re someone who’s better at thinking out loud or just want to stay hands-off the keyboard, this tool makes it easy to interact with your favorite AI chatbots without typing a single word.

Here’s why Wisprflow might be the perfect fit for your workflow:

• Think out loud: Whether you’re holding your baby, scarfing down a snack, or just don’t feel like typing, Wisprflow lets you speak to your AI without lifting a finger. It’s hands-free, flexible, and helps you stay focused on ideas rather than typing.

• Great for extroverted thinkers: Not all of us love typing. I’m more of an introverted thinker, so writing helps me process my thoughts. But if you’re an extroverted thinker who prefers talking through ideas, Wisprflow could really take your creative process to the next level.

• AI-powered conversations: Pair Wisprflow with ChatGPT, Claude, or any of your favorite chatbots. You’ll get an AI-powered conversation that feels more like brainstorming with a colleague, not just typing at a screen.

• Capture notes on the go: You can speak your notes while analyzing landing pages, email campaigns, or whatever you’re working on. No need to stop and type everything out—just talk, and Wisprflow will capture it for you.

If you’re tired of typing everything out or just want to get things done while eating lunch (we’ve all been there), Wisprflow is a solid choice. Hands-free, easy to use, and one of the best speech-to-text apps I’ve tried.

😂 Byte-Sized Laughs

📸 The Creator Angle

If you’re a creator, you know how hard it can be to find fresh inspiration or get past that dreaded creative block. Enter Leonardo.AI—an AI-powered platform that lets you create stunning visuals, but also serves as a deep well of inspiration. It’s not just about generating art; it’s about fueling your next big idea.

• Get Inspired: Leonardo isn’t just about making things; it’s a scrolling experience. There are thousands of incredible user-generated images to browse through. You could easily lose track of time just scrolling and soaking in the creative genius of others.

• Creative Jumpstart: Sometimes, you just need a spark to kick things off. Leonardo lets you experiment with different styles, palettes, and ideas, and then build on what you see. That “I-don’t-know-what-I-want” phase? Gone. You’ll find yourself picking up on little details you wouldn’t have thought of before.

• Speed Up Your Process: As creators, we all know the pain of spending hours tweaking one detail or getting stuck on the execution. Leonardo’s AI helps you fast-track that process, so you can spend more time refining and less time getting bogged down.

• Collaborative Vibes: If you’re working with others, Leonardo makes it easy to share ideas, adjust designs, and get feedback in real time.

• A Deep Dive Into Art: With user-generated images popping up from all kinds of creative minds, Leonardo’s gallery can actually become a rabbit hole of inspiration. You’ll find yourself immersed, looking at designs you never even thought to explore.

Leonardo.ai isn’t just a tool—it’s a way to think differently. Whether you’re stuck in a creative rut or looking for your next breakthrough idea, it’s a place to find inspiration, create, and get lost in the art of it all.

💎 Data Gem

Sounds like there’s 34% of marketers who might be getting laid off in the next 12 months. If you haven’t started adopting AI tools into your daily workflows, this is your sign. If you are already, then congrats! You’re ahead of the curve.

P.S. Highly recommend taking a look at the 2024 State of Marketing AI Report (I’ve already filled out the form to download it–you’re welcome).

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