AI Development Shakes Tech Market -

Kick off another week with curated AI development news, insights, and tips!

💥 DeepSeek’s cost-efficient AI development, built at a fraction of ChatGPT’s cost, disrupted the industry and shook Big Tech stocks this week.

🚨 Final call for employers and students to submit applications before the February 1st deadline for the Alabama Data Scholars internship program!

🌟 Lesson of the week: Learn how AI development and human creativity drives innovation, balance, and meaningful results in design.

🤖 Meta AI expands chatbot memory to personalize recommendations by remembering user preferences and interactions.

🎧 Weekly Tech Tip: Fix your AirPods with a quick factory reset.

📖 Book of the Week: “Thinking in Systems” by Donella H. Meadows.

Get a Quick Lesson In

DeepSeek's Monumental AI Development

DeepSeek has sent shockwaves through the AI industry by replicating OpenAI-level achievements at just a fraction of the cost with its AI development.

Its latest AI models, created with innovative techniques, were trained for only $5.6 million compared to OpenAI’s $100+ million investment, raising doubts about the necessity of exorbitant spending in AI development.

The impact has been seismic—Nvidia’s market cap plunged by over half a trillion dollars, with major tech giants like Tesla, Microsoft, and Google also experiencing steep losses.

DeepSeek’s efficiency has redefined the rules of the AI race, proving that smaller startups can disrupt the dominance of tech giants through sheer innovation.

Calling All Employers & Students!

Alabama employers can now connect with top data talent through the Alabama Data Scholars internship program, powered by QuantHub and Innovate Alabama with possible opportunities for AI development.

Gain access to a local, skilled tech talent pool and position your company as a leader in innovation. Build your future workforce and join other forward-thinking companies across Alabama.

If you’re a high school or college student interested in data or AI, this is your chance to jumpstart your career!

Lesson of the Week

This lesson of the week features insights from our skill, “Generative AI and multimedia development,” highlighting the synergy between AI development and human creativity to craft innovative, ethical multimedia content.

Question of the Week:

You’re working hard on an animation project, but as the deadline approaches and the pressure increases, you start relying more on GenAI. Suddenly, your unique project starts to look like it’s filled with content made by a computer, losing the special touch that only a person can give it.

Select the answer that best describes how to avoid over-reliance on GenAI:

A) Follow AI analytics and optimization for content strategy; staff handles grammar.
B) Ensure depth and human touch through human oversight and editorial review.
C) Staff writes initial prompts then fully automate content creation for efficiency and scale.

See if you’re right–the answer is at the bottom!

Meta AI Develops Its Chatbot Memory

Meta AI is expanding its chatbot’s “memory” feature, enabling it to remember user preferences and interests for improved recommendations, showcasing big strides in its AI development.

The chatbot will use data from Facebook and Instagram accounts, along with past conversations, to personalize responses, such as suggesting activities or recipes tailored to the user’s profile and interactions.

While users can delete stored memories, Meta has not introduced an opt-out option for this feature, emphasizing its commitment to personalization.

Weekly Tech Tip

Fix Your AirPods with a Quick Factory Reset

iPhone/iPad:
1. Place AirPods in the charging case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds.
2. Open the lid and connect to your iPhone/iPad via Settings > Bluetooth.
3. Tap the blue “i” icon next to AirPods and select Forget This Device, then confirm.
4. Press and hold the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes amber, then white.
Android:
1. Place AirPods in the charging case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds.
2. Open the lid and connect via Settings > Connected Devices > Cog Icon.
3. Tap Forget Device, then confirm.
Re-pairing: Open the AirPods case near your device to restart the setup process.

Pro Tip: Resetting solves connectivity issues and prepares AirPods for resale or trade-in!

Book of the Week

Donella Meadows’ “Thinking in Systems” offers a concise introduction to systems thinking, vital for addressing complex global and personal challenges.

It translates abstract concepts into practical tools, empowering readers to navigate interconnected problems like poverty and environmental degradation.

Meadows emphasizes humility, lifelong learning, and focusing on what truly matters, making this book both a methodological guide and an inspiring call to action for a more thoughtful and effective approach to problem-solving.