Budget AI, Apple Clips, and Miniature Nuclear Tech

Welcome to the third edition of our weekly newsletter.

We would like to thank every single one of you who read last week’s edition, gave us feedback and we encourage you to keep doing so.

As usual, we’re breaking down key digital changes in the past week:

• DeepSeek: The $6 Million AI Shaking Up Silicon Valley

• Paralyzed Man Flies Virtual Drone Using Only His Thoughts

• China’s 50-Year Battery: The Tiny Powerhouse Changing Everything

• Case Study: How a Private Jet Broker Uses a Custom Immersible Video Wall to Assist With the Selling Experience

• Apple’s App Clips: Instant Functionality Without the Download

Let’s dive in.

DeepSeek: The $6 Million AI Shaking Up Silicon Valley 

A Chinese research lab has outperformed ChatGPT on the U.S. App Store with an AI model trained for $6 million—a fraction of Silicon Valley’s billion-dollar budgets. Here’s a concise breakdown of its implications.

What Is DeepSeek?

DeepSeek is a Chinese non-profit research organization focused on making AI accessible. Their model achieves three milestones:

• Trained its top model for $6 million (vs. OpenAI’s estimated $540M+ for ChatGPT)

• Fully open-source

• Optimized for energy efficiency

How It Works

While U.S. firms rely on cutting-edge chips like Nvidia’s restricted H100s, DeepSeek’s model runs on older A100 GPUs – a cheaper alternative.

Liang Wenfeng, the founder, who had previously focused on applying AI to investing, had bought a "stockpile of Nvidia A100 chips," a type of tech that is now banned from export to China. Those chips became the basis of DeepSeek as per an MIT publication.

DeepSeek’s AI operates like a team of specialists. Instead of engaging its entire neural network for every task, it activates only the pre-programmed AI’s specifically needed for the job. For example

• Need to translate text? It activates its "language specialist."

• Solving math? It switches to its "calculation expert."

• Analyzing data? It delegates to its "pattern recognition module."

Self-learning algorithms minimize human intervention by refining performance through usage, while hardware optimization tailors code to maximize older chips’ capabilities.

Market Impact

The launch triggered immediate fallout: Nvidia lost $590B in market value in one day, Microsoft and Oracle stocks dipped amid investor uncertainty, and OpenAI’s CEO called the model “impressive for the price.”

Why This Matters to You

1️⃣ Cheaper AI tools: Small businesses could access ChatGPT-level tech at 1/10th the cost
2️⃣ Privacy boost: Runs locally on your phone (no data sent to the cloud)
3️⃣ Coding superpower: Outperforms ChatGPT in programming tasks

^{Image blocked? View comparison chart here}

The Bigger Picture

DeepSeek highlights two critical shifts: democratization (affordable AI spreading faster than smartphones) and US-China tech dynamics (failed export controls to slow down China’s AI progress).

Breaking News

Microsoft and OpenAI are now investigating whether DeepSeek illegally used OpenAI’s data via API harvesting and model distillation (training its AI on ChatGPT’s outputs) – tactics banned for competitors under OpenAI’s terms. While DeepSeek stays silent, OpenAI confirmed “signs” of misuse which sparks debate about the ethics of AI data sourcing. Read more about this.

Limitations to Note

The model struggles with creative writing tasks, stores data in China (raising security concerns), and requires technical expertise (no user-friendly apps yet).

Try DeepSeek: Free chatbot at deepseek.com

Read More: What Is DeepSeek? China’s New AI Is Now Open-Source

Paralyzed Man Flies Virtual Drone Using Only His Thoughts

A 69-year-old man with paralysis just pulled off something straight out of a movie – he flew a virtual drone using only his mind. No joysticks. No voice commands. Pure brainpower.

The secret lies in a brain implant that translates thoughts into action. Electrodes detect when he imagines moving his fingers, then AI translates those signals into drone commands. The result? A completed virtual obstacle course.

“It’s like playing a musical instrument with my mind,” the participant said, which highlights the precise mental finesse required.

This technology holds life-changing potential for people with paralysis, potentially allowing them to type messages mentally or control wheelchairs and smart homes.

But there’s a catch: The implant requires brain surgery and fails for 30% of users.

While Blackrock Neurotech led this project, Elon Musk’s Neuralink is racing to make similar tech wireless. Current challenges include overheating implants, the need for intense concentration, and unknown long-term effects.

This isn’t mass-market tech yet, but it’s a huge leap.

“We’re finally bridging the gap between mind and machine,” one researcher noted.

See it in action here or read the full story

China’s 50-Year Battery: The Tiny Powerhouse Changing Everything 

A Beijing-based company just unveiled a battery that could power devices longer than ever before. Meet the BV100 – a coin-sized nuclear cell that generates electricity for 50 years without ever needing a charge.

The Science Behind It

This isn’t your average AA battery. The BV100 uses nickel-63, a radioactive isotope, paired with diamond semiconductors. Here’s the magic:

• As nickel-63 slowly decays (over 50 years!), it releases energy

• Diamond layers convert that energy into electricity

• Zero emissions, no radiation leaks, and it works from -60°C to 120°C

Think of it as a tiny, self-sustaining power plant that’s safer than your microwave.

Why Your Gadgets Might Soon Be Nuclear

Beijing Betavolt’s breakthrough isn’t just about longevity – their BV100 battery is 10x more energy dense than lithium, survives gunshots and extreme temps, and fits into devices smaller than an AirPod case.

Initial targets include AI sensors, space gear, and medical implants. But CEO Zhang Wei teases a wilder future: “Phones that never charge? Drones that fly for decades? We’re close.”

 ^{Image blocked? See how tiny this nuke is} 

Geopolitical Implications

China’s leap could rewrite the global tech race:

• US/USSR tried mini nuclear batteries in the 60s (too bulky/expensive)

• China’s 14th Five-Year Plan prioritized civilian nuclear tech

• EU and US now scrambling to catch up

The BV100 could give China an edge in everything from satellites to AI infrastructure.

But Wait – Can I Buy One?

Not yet, but:

• Pilot production started this year

• Mass production expected “soon”

• First customers: Aerospace and medical companies

Downside? Current models only output 100 microwatts – enough for sensors, not smartphones. But Betavolt’s already working on stronger versions using strontium-90.

Future Applications

While we won’t see nuclear iPhones tomorrow, this tech could power Mars rovers for decades, keep pacemakers running a lifetime, and create self-sustaining IoT (Internet of Things) networks that never need charging.

As one researcher put it: “This is the battery revolution we’ve been waiting for – they just moved the timeline up by 30 years.”

Go Deeper: Full technical specs from Betavolt

Case Study: How a Private Jet Broker Uses a Custom Immersible Video Wall to Assist With the Selling Experience

A private jet broker transformed the sales process by developing a custom app displayed on a large video wall, enabling buyers to visually compare aircraft and build trust through transparency.

The broker built a custom software displayed on an immersive video wall that:

• Eliminates unsuitable jets using client-specific filters (e.g., budget, range, passenger count)

• Displays cabins at 1:1 scale, letting buyers walk alongside life-sized renders to compare interiors

• Simulates range based on fuel, wind, and route frequency (e.g., shows if a jet can fly London→Dubai nonstop)

_{Cant’ see the image? Check out the video demo below}

Why It Works

• Buyers see exact cabin dimensions instead of relying on descriptions.

• Route simulations prove performance (e.g., "Can this jet handle monthly Dubai trips with 8 passengers?").

• The immersive experience builds trust by replacing sales pitches with visual proof.

By letting buyers visually test jets in real-world scenarios, the broker closes sales faster and establishes credibility.

See It Work: Video Demo

Apple’s App Clips: Instant Functionality Without the Download

Imagine needing to pay for coffee, rent a bike, or try a game – but you don’t want to deal with the hassle of downloading a specific app. Introducing App Clips, Apple’s fast and convenient solution for instant app access without the download.

What Are App Clips?

Think of them as app samplers – lightweight versions (under 10MB) that let you do one thing fast.

Scan a QR code at a café to pay, tap an NFC tag on a museum exhibit for info, or unlock a rental scooter by scanning its code. Once done, the Clip deletes itself unless you want the full app.

App Clips let users skip the “download our app” hassle while giving businesses a tool to turn real-world moments (like ordering coffee) into app conversions.

How They Work

1. Triggers: QR codes, NFC tags, links, or Maps locations launch the Clip.

2. Single task focus: Pay, unlock, demo – nothing more.

3. Apple Pay/Sign In: Skip creating accounts.

4. Delete automatically: Unless you install the full app.

Examples

• Phoenix 2 (game): Play the tutorial via Clip before installing.

• Lime scooters: Scan to unlock without downloading the app.

• Smart appliances: Tap your phone to set up a new device.

Downside

• No direct tracking of Clip-to-install conversions (Apple’s privacy rules).

• Need physical triggers (QR/NFC) for best results.

Read more here

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