DeepSeek buzz shows the game is not over for AI firms: Canadian tech leaders
Jan 28, 2025 - financialpost.com
Canadian tech leaders view the emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, as a sign of continued innovation potential in the AI sector. Despite causing a stir in tech stocks, DeepSeek's ability to perform comparably to OpenAI’s ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost is seen as an opportunity for Canadian firms to innovate. Julien Billot, CEO of Scale AI, emphasizes that breakthroughs can occur outside the U.S., suggesting that Canada's AI history and resources position it well for future disruption. Aidan Gomez of Cohere and Marc Low from KPMG highlight the importance of efficiency and predict that DeepSeek will drive down generative AI costs, making the technology more accessible.
The optimism stems from the belief that innovation isn't solely dependent on massive financial investments, as demonstrated by DeepSeek's success. Canadian firms like Cohere are poised to capitalize on this trend by focusing on efficient AI solutions. The deflationary impact of DeepSeek's technology could lower entry barriers for organizations, benefiting Canadian companies as AI becomes more affordable. This perspective underscores the potential for Canada to play a significant role in the evolving AI landscape.
Key takeaways:
Canadian AI leaders view the success of DeepSeek's chatbot as a sign of ongoing innovation opportunities in the AI sector.
DeepSeek's AI assistant is noted for its cost efficiency, performing comparably to OpenAI's ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost.
Julien Billot of Scale AI emphasizes that innovation can occur with limited resources, highlighting Canada's potential in the AI industry.
DeepSeek's advancements may lead to reduced costs in generative AI, making the technology more accessible to various organizations.
