Recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the leading voices shaping technology and leadership, Anders Indset is the author of four Spiegel bestsellers, with his works translated into over ten languages. He is the Founder and Chairman of Njordis Group, a driving force behind initiatives like the Quantum Economy, and a sought-after international speaker on exponential technologies and the future of humanity. He is also author of the upcoming book The Singularity Paradox: Bridging the Gap Between Humanity and AI (Wiley).
“On Wall Street and among large foundation-model providers and HPC companies, the common belief has been that the future of AI—particularly LLMs—is primarily about compute,” Anders explains. “However, DeepSeek demonstrates that new approaches will continue to emerge and that 2025 will bring additional major breakthroughs and publications showcasing progress in the field. Rumors suggest that DeepSeek’s model is far more efficient than others, implying that engineering and innovation are still achievable without massive budgets.
Speculation about the DeepSeek model began in Q3 2024, and since its official publication and release, two central points have emerged:
1. Innovation and Progress: New approaches to architecture and engineering are still possible.
2. Open Source vs. Risks: While there may be significant advantages to choosing an open-source model, it also poses substantial risks—especially as companies push toward AGI. Malicious actors could easily exploit open-source AI models, and if future autonomous agents can be trained on budgets of only a few million dollars, new dangers arise.
Prediction: AI striving Toward Human-Like architecture to take on reasoning and fundamental understanding:
With a stronger emphasis on reasoning and understanding, new models are moving closer to mimicking the functioning of the human brain. At the same time, the limitations of current large language models are becoming a starting point for further innovation.
Prediction 2: Quantum Technologies as Game-Changers:
Quantum chips and groundbreaking developments herald the next revolution. The “Year of Quantum Science and Technology” is delivering exciting momentum as companies like NVIDIA invest in a versatile quantum ecosystem that supports both large language models and more lightweight approaches. These advancements underscore the importance of technological expertise and scientific focus in the global race and open up the potentiality for new innovation clusters
Lessons Learned: Lightweight Models as the Key to Efficiency (and will be the driver of many new use-cases):
DeepSeek’s lightweight model vividly illustrates that we are far from a definitive evaluation of new technologies. It becomes evident that the competition among large language models extends beyond pure technology and is increasingly shifting to concrete business use cases—a critical phase for the future relevance of these approaches.
What to Expect next: Industrial AI for Practical Applications:
The competition among large language models is increasingly focusing on practical business use cases. Particularly in the field of industrial applications, quantitative AI models—or industrial AI—present significant opportunities. Europe and Japan have large datasets and access to IP and special knowledge and expertise here, capable of developing economically relevant agents and models that can set new standards. (A chance for Europe / Germany to recover?)
Global Competition Creating Opportunities for Smaller Players:
Asia and other regions are pursuing alternative agendas that challenge Silicon Valley. Despite intense global competition, this breakthrough shows that it is not too late for smaller players to also find opportunities to thrive in this dynamic environment through targeted innovation.
Capitalism and Competition as Engines of the Energy Transition:
Rising energy demand is driving technological innovation. Long-term advances in efficiency and cost reduction in green technologies ensure that fossil fuels will become increasingly uncompetitive. Competition within the energy sector remains a crucial factor in accelerating this transition.
“Drill, Baby, Drill”: The Energy Crisis as a Catalyst for Innovation:
Investments in fossil energy like oil and gas are driving long-term efficiency and technological progress in green energy. The capital flowing into the energy sector accelerates the development of batteries, solar systems, and other technologies, ultimately making the energy transition more efficient. Prediction: “Drill-Baby-Drill” will actually lead to more innovation in the Energy sector and speed up the transition to more efficient energy sources (Capitalism for Climate)
Reframed: Capitalism as an Accelerator of the Energy Transition:
Capitalism, particularly through investments in the energy sector, creates the conditions for oil to lose its competitiveness in the long term. The growing demand for more efficient technologies drives innovations and ensures a faster transition to sustainable energy forms.
Geopolitical Dynamics: Risks and Opportunities:
The technological race, especially through China’s advances, brings geopolitical tensions. At the same time, it creates opportunities for smaller players to remain competitive on a global scale.
Jevons Paradox and Accelerated Progress:
The more people engage with technologies, the faster we experience progress and breakthroughs. This effect is amplified by the growing number of players and the competition driving further innovation.
Open Source and Censorship as Political Issues:
The question of control and censorship, particularly in the context of China’s influence, is becoming increasingly political. At the same time, technological advances continue despite restrictions—an indicator of the resilience of innovation.
Limitations and the Unstoppable Nature of Technology:
Attempts to limit technology through exclusion or political barriers are rarely successful. Progress continues, driven by global players and economic interests.
Competition as a Driver for Green Innovations:
The increasing demand for energy and the associated competition are ensuring that technologies such as renewable energy and storage methods become cost-efficient and competitive more quickly.
