Today in AI news and how comms pros should think and talk about it....
1. DeepSeek jumps in the deep end: DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has created a market-moving disruption by developing an AI model that rivals OpenAI's capabilities at a fraction of the cost. This has triggered a $1 trillion selloff in US and European tech stocks and challenged assumptions about AI development costs and competitive barriers.
2. Democratic governors seek AI middle path policy under Trump: The Trump administration's repeal of federal AI regulations has created a stark policy divide, with Democratic governors unexpectedly aligning with Trump's pro-innovation stance. This suggests that state-level AI regulation may remain limited unless clear harms emerge that existing laws cannot address.
3. Meta is making an extraordinary commitment to AI development, planning to invest up to $65 billion in AI-related projects in 2025. This indicates the scale of investment major tech companies believe is necessary to remain competitive in the AI race.
4. Social media platforms are facing increased European Union scrutiny, with Meta, TikTok, X, Google, and others undergoing stress tests before the German elections. This highlights the growing regulatory focus on preventing election disinformation through digital platforms.
5. AI-driven power boom: The AI boom is projected to create unprecedented infrastructure demands, with the largest US power grid expecting a 38% increase in electricity demand over the next decade - equivalent to adding two New England-sized networks.
6. Research indicates an inverse relationship between AI knowledge and acceptance: People less familiar with AI technology tend to view it more favorably than those with technical expertise, suggesting potential challenges in managing public expectations and concerns.
7. "Find us on Bluesky.": The European Medicines Agency's decision to abandon X in favor of Bluesky signals a broader shift in how government institutions reevaluate their social media strategies in response to platform changes and concerns about information integrity.
Pro tip: Make sure you have a professional with expertise in geopolitical communications on your team. Such a pro will help you navigate geopolitical challenges related to your business objectives and confidently speak about this environment.
Caracal is here to help.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
