Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- for a fraction of (something) / fər ə ˈfræk ʃən əv / (idiom) – for a much lower price or in a much smaller size or amount than something else
Example:This store sells clothes for a fraction of the price of those in the next store.
- skepticism / ˈskɛp təˌsɪz əm / (n.) – an attitude of doubting whether something is true or useful
Example:Despite performing very well, there is still skepticism about the new phone model because a small tech company created it.
- semiconductor / ˌsɛm i kənˈdʌk tər / (n.) – a material or item that lets heat or electricity flow through it, particularly in electronic devices
Example:Scientists are developing new types of semiconductors to improve mobile phones’ battery life.
- electrify / ɪˈlɛk trəˌfaɪ / (v.) – to provide electricity or power to something so it can operate
Example:The government will fund a project that will electrify remote areas and provide reliable power to local communities.
- trumpet / ˈtrʌm pɪt / (v.) – to announce something to a large audience in a proud manner
Example:The small tech company trumpeted its partnership with a big tech company all over its social media accounts.
Article
Read the text below.
Huge U.S. technology companies that soared amid an artificial intelligence frenzy last year are getting pummeled after a little-talked-about Chinese startup demonstrated a chatbot that it says rivals versions from OpenAI and Google, and for a fraction of the cost.
An AI company called DeepSeek said it has developed a large language model that can compete with U.S. giants. It’s a new kind of chatbot that rivals some of the leading models from Google, OpenAI and Anthropic.
DeepSeek seemed to come out of nowhere, barely noticed in tech circles until mid-January. But experts say it’s not entirely a surprise.
“It was clear that they were one of the leading shops in China, but is a very small outfit that basically achieved some remarkable AI capabilities. And also another thing that’s remarkable about it is that they did so with very much less resources than some of the big tech firms. And so that’s why it’s caused a big of an upset because people thought that it wouldn’t really be possible to build such a good AI unless you were big tech. And so it has changed people’s perception on the industry a little bit,” says Carsten Jung, Head of Macroeconomics and AI at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
DeepSeek’s app had already hit the top of Apple’s App Store chart, and analysts said such a feat would be particularly impressive, given how the U.S. government has restricted Chinese access to top AI chips.
Skepticism, though, remains about how much DeepSeek’s announcement will ultimately shake the AI supply chain, from the chip makers making semiconductors to the utilities hoping to electrify vast data centers running those chips.
“AI is becoming cheaper. It is becoming better. And progress is continuing to increase… But DeepSeek definitely is now in the game and people will use it, but not for everything,” says Jung.
DeepSeek’s disruption also rocked AI-related stocks worldwide.
In Amsterdam, Dutch chipmaking equipment company ASML slid 7%. In Tokyo, Japan’s Softbank Group Corp. lost 8.3% to pull closer to where it was before leaping on an announcement trumpeted by the White House that it was joining a partnership to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- DeepSeek, an AI company that is barely noticed, has developed a large language model that can compete with U.S. giants. In your opinion, can an unpopular company like DeepSeek successfully compete with more established ones? Why do you say so? If smaller tech companies continue to succeed, how do you think this would affect the market for big tech companies? Discuss.
- As a consumer, would you consider using a product from a small AI company like DeepSeek, or do you feel more comfortable with the offerings from big tech companies like Google? What influences your choice? Discuss.
Discussion B
- In what ways could cheaper AI tools, like those developed by DeepSeek, affect various industries (ex. more companies will be able to afford AI integration in their business)? Discuss.
- Do you think AI or tech products that are developed and sold at a lower cost are not as good as the more expensive ones? Why or why not? Discuss.
