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thoughtportal · 2 months ago

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People often feel that their inner thoughts and feelings are much richer than what they are capable of expressing in real time. Entrepreneur Elon Musk is so bothered by what he calls this “bandwidth problem,” in fact, that one of his long-term goals is to create an interface that lets the human brain communicate directly with a computer, unencumbered by the slow speed of speaking or writing.

If Musk succeeded, he would probably be disappointed. According to recent research published in Neuron, human beings remember, make decisions and imagine things at a fixed, excruciatingly slow speed of about 10 bits per second. In contrast, human sensory systems gather data at about one billion bits per second.

This biological paradox, highlighted in the new study, probably contributes to the false feeling that our mind can engage in seemingly infinite thoughts simultaneously—a phenomenon the researchers deem “the Musk illusion.” Study co-author Markus Meister, a neuroscientist at the California Institute of Technology, says that “the human brain is much less impressive than we might think. It’s incredibly slow when it comes to making decisions, and it’s ridiculously slower than any of the devices we interact with.”

Meister and his co-author Jieyu Zheng, a doctoral candidate in neurobiology at Caltech, also highlight in their paper that our brain can do only one thing—slowly—at a time. Even if Musk managed to hook his brain up to a computer, Meister says, he still wouldn’t be able to communicate with it any faster than he could if he used a telephone.

The new research builds on decades of psychology studies showing that humans selectively perceive just a small portion of information from the sensory experience. “We can only pay attention to so much, and that’s what becomes our conscious experience and enters memory,” Meister says. What has been missing from past research, he continues, is “any sense of numbers.” He and Zheng have endeavored to fill that quantitative gap.

Meister and Zheng collated data from research across different fields, including psychology, neuroscience, technology and human performance. They used this information—from the processing speed of single neurons to the cognitive prowess of memory champions—to run many of their own calculations so they could make comparisons between studies.

From research spanning nearly a century, they found that human cognition has repeatedly been measured as functioning at between about five and 20 bits per second, with a ballpark average of around 10 bits per second. “This was a very surprising number,” Zheng says. Based on this finding, she adds, she and Meister also calculated that the total amount of information a person can learn across their lifetime could comfortably fit on a small thumb drive.

Human sensory systems such as sight, smell and sound, in contrast, operate much faster, the authors found—at about 100,000,000 times the rate of cognition. “When you put these numbers together, you realize there’s this huge gap,” Meister says. “From that paradox comes interesting new opportunities for science to organize research differently.”

The rich information relayed by our senses also contributes to a false notion that we register the massive amount of detail and contrast all around us. But that’s “demonstrably not true,” Meister says. When people are asked to describe what they see outside the center of their gaze, they “barely make out anything,” he adds. Because our eyes have the capability to focus on any detail, he continues, “our mind gives us the illusion that these things are present simultaneously all the time,” even though in actuality we must focus on specific visual features to register them. A similar phenomenon occurs with mental ability. “In principle, we could be having lots of different thoughts and direct our cognition in lots of different ways,” Meister says. “But in practice, we can have only one thought at a time.”

Another problem that contributes to an overinflated sense of our own mind, he adds, is that we have no marker of comparison: “There’s no way to step outside ourselves to recognize that this is really not much to brag about.”

The findings raise questions in many domains, from evolution and technology to cross-species comparisons, the authors write. One of the questions Meister and Zheng are most curious about, though, is why the prefrontal cortex—thought to be the seat of personality and behavioral control—houses billions of neurons yet has a fixed decision making capability that processes information at just 10 bits per second. The researchers suspect the answer might have something to do with the brain’s need to frequently switch tasks and integrate information across different circuits. But more complex behavioral studies will be needed to test that hypothesis.

Another important unanswered question, Meister says, is why the human brain can do only one thing at a time. “If we could have 1,000 thoughts in parallel, each at 10 bits per second, the discrepancy wouldn’t be as big as it is,” he says. Why humans are incapable of such mental multitasking is “a deep mystery that almost nothing is known about.”

Anthony Zador, a neuroscientist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York State, who was not involved in the new paper but is mentioned in its acknowledgments, says the “wonderful and thought-provoking” study presents what seems to be a newly recognized fundamental truth about the brain’s upper limit of “roughly the pace of casual typing or conversation.”

“Nature, it seems, has built a speed limit into our conscious thoughts, and no amount of neural engineering may be able to bypass it,” Zador says. “Why? We really don’t know, but it’s likely the result of our evolutionary history.”

Nicole Rust, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania, who also was not involved in the research, says the new study could reshape how neuroscientists approach some of their work.

“Why can our peripheral nervous system process thousands of items in parallel, but we can do only one thing at a time?” she says. “Any theory of the brain that seeks to account for all the fascinating things we can do, like planning and problem-solving, will have to account for this paradox.”

#science #neuroscience #brains #neurology #scientific american #article

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museaumofnaturalhistory · 4 months ago

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The ‘Elegant’ Math Model That Could Help Rescue Coral Reefs - by Max G. Levy (Contributing Writer) | The Quanta Magazine - MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY | 26th/02/2025

Physicists & Marine Biologists Built a Quantitative Framework Model Predicting as to how Coral Polyps Collectively Manage Making Corals of a Wide Range & Variety of Diverse Shapes & Sizes.

Since before she could remember, Eva Llabrés was a snorkeler. Her grandfather, a fishmonger from the Spanish island of Menorca, bought Llabrés her first mask & fins; throughout childhood, she was in the Mediterranean, spotting octopuses, eels, seagrasses & bright starfish. The ocean was a home, but in school, She preferred physics & math. In Barcelona for college, she dove into the theoretical mysteries of black holes & quantum gravity. After earning her doctorate, she changed gears: She wanted to come back to Earth, landing in the ocean. There, she found a world of unanswered questions in reef physics.

Coral is 2 things at once. It is a stony underwater structure, often spanning swaths of seafloor, that shelters ecstatically diverse marine life. It’s also the animal that builds that structure: an anemone-like polyp less than a centimeter long. By building calcium carbonate cups one on top of another and budding asexually, polyps collectively bulge, branch, ripple and fan out into diverse shapes, including shelves, boulders, pillars, branches and cauliflower-like nubs.

Why do corals form one shape over another? A single species can form different shapes under different circumstances, and simple environmental factors such as light and water flow aren’t enough to explain the variety. What coral researchers could really use is a computer model that simulates how polyps grow into complex structures from simple physical rules. Such a tool could help them understand how reef structures grow and change, and it could guide their efforts to restore corals where they’ve been lost.

Llabrés joined up with marine biologists to lend her mathematical expertise. In a study published in 2024, the team made headway toward a “universal” model of coral growth(opens a new tab). Informed by biological observations, such as how and when polyps bud, the tool breaks down a coral structure geometrically and can predict corals’ five most common shapes using just five growth variables.

Llabrés’ concise physical rules reproduce real coral patterns without the need for specific programming. “They created this universal recipe that can create many different types of coral shapes just by adding a few ingredients. … I like the elegance of it,” said Anna Vinton(opens a new tab), a quantitative ecologist with the University of Southern California who was not involved in the study. “It suggests that they’ve captured some of the fundamental principles of how corals grow.”

Eva Llabrés, a trained physicist, collaborates with marine biologists to mathematically model the growth of ecologically vital species including seagrasses & corals.

“Every computational biologist wants to do something like this … this kind of Occam’s razor idea that with the simplest model you try to explain as much as possible,” said Jaap Kaandorp(opens a new tab), a computational biologist with the University of Amsterdam who has modeled corals but was not part of Llabrés’ project. “The emergence of growth and form is one of the fundamental questions in biology.”

Coral modeling has immediate applications. Marine heat waves, sea level rise and ocean acidification — consequences of climate change — threaten coral animals, their calcium carbonate structures and the ecosystems they anchor. If scientists can understand the rules of how these organisms grow, they can better predict how to keep them alive and thriving through the changes to come.

Polyp Predictions

Llabrés’ foray into quantitative ecology began with a different marine species that shapes shallow-water ecosystems. Since the 1970s, computational biologists have modeled the theoretical growth of plants, such as grasses(opens a new tab) and trees(opens a new tab). Llabrés joined the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems in Mallorca to help with a similar effort with seagrass, led by the institute’s Tomàs Sintes(opens a new tab) and the marine biologist Carlos Duarte(opens a new tab) from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. During the research, one collaborator noticed that seagrasses grow complex colony patterns from budding clones — just like corals. “So then we said: Let’s try to apply what we know to corals,” Llabrés said.

The team wanted to home in on the mathematical rules that conjure the most common coral structures. A logic that explains the difference between growing into a tall and narrow column and a domelike “massive” coral must be buried deep in a polyp’s biological programming, they figured. It can be seen as an optimization problem: What’s the minimum number of variables needed to simulate the maximum number of shapes?

Coral Polyps are Animals, Related to Jellyfish & Anemones, Living in Colonies. - NOAA; G.P. Schmahl/FGBNMS

They started with the marine biologists’ expertise. When scientists say that coral “grows,” they’re referring to two processes: expansion and cloning. In expansion, individual polyps deposit calcium carbonate beneath their bodies in a cuplike shape, which enlarges as the polyp grows. Then, when the distance between polyps gets large enough, and there is empty space nearby, new polyps will bud off asexually — cloning — to expand the structure in a new direction.

"Polyps Collectively Bulge, Branch, Ripple & Fan Out into Diverse Shapes."

This told them that all coral structures take their shape from individual polyps’ microscopic inclinations. One polyp could grow and then clone up, down or sideways, but collectively they appear organized - fanning out into sheets or protruding like tendrils. “Massive” colonies grow outward horizontally and vertically at comparable rates, like inflated balloons; polyps of column colonies secrete their skeletal ingredients more or less vertically. Examples like these cued Llabrés into a biological logic that she could translate into mathematical language.

First, she reimagined a basic coral structure: Instead of being built from polyps, it is made of hexagonal, pyramidlike objects — pointy like a cone with a six-edged base — which she called “hexacones.” Each vertex (corner) represents a polyp, and the lines connecting them form a patchwork of triangles. Llabrés wrote rules to govern what happens to hexacones as the digital coral expands.

One rule describes cloning: Polyps grow apart until the space between them reaches a critical size, at which point a new polyp generation appears in that space. Another rule governs the expansion of the hexacone based on how and where polyps deposit calcium. And a third rule encodes how a subset of polyps can construct branches that jut out laterally from the rest of the coral.

The principles of cloning, expansion and branching guided Llabrés toward the most important variables for the model. The calcium carbonate deposit rate could partially describe expansion, and the distance between polyps was crucial to simulating cloning. For branching, both the angle at which branches protrude and the distance between branches mattered. This gave her four variables, each of which played a unique role.

Llabrés suspected that she was missing another variable that could skew a structure’s overall growth vertically or horizontally — a factor that distinguishes tables, massives and columns. She worried that this was asking too much of one variable with a value between zero and 1.

After hours and hours of clacking at code on her keyboard, it came together. A “growth mode” variable she devised was powerful. It allowed polyps in Llabrés’ model to grow differently based on their position in the colony. Adjusting its value, “very fast I got a massive and then a column,” she recalled. Then cauliflowers and tables and branches. “I was like, wow, I think I might have something here.”

Study co-author Eleonora Re, a doctoral candidate on Duarte’s marine biology team, recently conducted experiments in the Red Sea to validate the team’s five-variable model with real coral data. So far, the model’s predictions of coral shape match real coral, according to preliminary results she expects to publish this year.

The set of five variables reproduces more coral forms than any model before it, including those made by Kaandorp(opens a new tab). However, it reproduces only five of the many known shapes. “To re-create the whole diversity in growth forms you see in nature is an immense challenge,” Kaandorp said. “They cannot simulate everything, but it’s still an impressive range of growth forms.”

Vinton found the work exciting despite its limits. “It’s a model to represent the real world, so it’s not going to capture all of the complexity that we see in coral,” she said. “But it does [capture] a fantastic amount given how simple their mathematical framework is.”

It’s an encouraging illustration of theoretical ecology, she added. “People call it the ‘headlights’ of ecology and evolution,” she said. “It can guide your hypotheses for what you might see in the real world.”

From Model to Real World

Coral reefs have been around for millions of years, and many of today’s living reefs are thousands of years old. Clearly, corals are survivors. That’s because a coral is biologically programmed to adapt to new conditions — an ability called plasticity — by adjusting its physiology and growth to cope with change within certain bounds.

Eleonora Re, a Marine Biologist, Checks the Health of Coral Fragments at a Nursery in Saudi Arabia. The Fragments are Used to Help Restore Ailing Reefs. - Courtesy of Eleonora Re

Plasticity differs from evolution because it happens within an individual’s lifetime. Understanding a polyp’s adjustments can therefore help biologists grasp the limits of adaptation in an era of unprecedented change. How quickly does coral grow? How densely can polyps pack together? What shapes do colonies assume to adapt to different environments?

Vinton wonders whether certain shapes are inherently more adaptable than others. “Their shape can determine their fitness in different environments,” she said. “Their survival, but also their reproduction.” When a chunk of coral breaks off in a strong wave, it can grow on its own into a new colony — a form of asexual propagation that lets species colonize new areas. Shape and density matter; a coral with fragile branches is more likely to reproduce this way than one in a massive boulder form. “Are they breaking off more, or are they not?” she asked. That difference between two structures could determine a reef’s future. However, polyps’ internal growth programming isn’t everything. While Llabrés’ model represents an imagined genetic predisposition for certain shapes, in real life the environment is just as important to coral growth, if not more so. For example, if you grow one species of coral in sunlit shallow water, Kaandorp said, it will grow very differently than in deeper, darker water.

“There’s a direct connection between the growth process and environmental influence,” he said. “This issue is very important.”

Llabrés’ next step is to include environmental factors such as water flow or light intensity. “These are the two main things known to influence coral,” said Llabrés(opens a new tab), who is now a postdoc at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology. “When it’s working, then the model can be a tool to predict what’s going to happen in changing conditions.”

Such tools can guide biologists to rebuild reefs with shapes optimally equipped for the long-term, large-scale ecological restoration(opens a new tab) that’s so far been elusive(opens a new tab). “This kind of understanding is crucial for predicting how coral ecosystems and marine ecosystems might respond to climate change,” Vinton said, “and which species might need more attention and restoration.”

Llabrés has witnessed decades of impacts from climate change in the waters she grew up snorkeling. “I’ve seen the change — the system degrading,” she said. “There’s some species that I don’t see there anymore.” But her experience in the water has also evolved, thanks to a physics-tinted lens on marine life.

“I find myself asking more questions whenever I’m snorkeling,” she said. “I see even more clearly how resilient nature is; it often finds ways to adapt and thrive, even in ways we might not expect.”

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religion-is-a-mental-illness · 1 year ago

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By: Charles Q. Choi

Published: Mar 7, 2012

Chimpanzees have police, too. Now, researchers are discovering what makes these simian enforcers of the peace step into conflicts, findings that could help shed light on the roots of policing in humans.

Animals handle conflicts within groups in a variety of ways, such as policing, where impartial bystanders intercede when disputes crop up. Policing, which has been seen in chimps, gorillas, orangutans and other primates, differs from other forms of intervention in that such arbiters are neither biased nor aggressive — they are neither supporting allies nor punishing wrongdoers.

Policing is risky, however, since it involves approaching two or more combative squabblers, which may lead to would-be arbiters becoming the targets of aggression themselves. To find out why primate policing evolved despite such risk, scientists took a closer look at pol.

The researchers analyzed one group of chimpanzees in a zoo in Gossau, Switzerland, for nearly 600 hours over two years. This group experienced a great deal of social tumult — zookeepers there introduced three new adult female chimps, upsetting the former order, and a power struggle also led to a new alpha male. The investigators also looked at records of chimp policing behavior at three other zoos.

The scientists monitored ape social interactions, such as aggressive conflicts, friendly grooming and policing behavior. Policing could involve threatening both quarrelers in a conflict, or running between the antagonists to break up the squabble.

The researchers explored a couple of potential explanations for policing. For instance, policing might help high-ranking members of a group control rivals to keep themselves dominant, or to help keep potential mates from leaving the group. However, both explanations would require high-ranking males to be the arbiters — female chimps usually do not fight over rank, and female chimps are the most likely members to leave groups, not males. In contrast, the researchers found that police chimps were of both sexes. [8 Ways Chimps Act Like Us]

The researchers suggest policing helps improve the stability of groups, thus providing the arbiters with a healthy community to live in. Supporting this notion is the fact that arbiters were more willing to intervene impartially if several quarrelers were involved in a dispute, probably because such conflicts are more likely to jeopardize group peace.

"The interest in community concern that is highly developed in us humans and forms the basis for our moral behavior is deeply rooted — it can also be observed in our closest relatives," said researcher Claudia Rudolf von Rohr at the University of Zurich.

The scientists detailed their findings online today (March 7) in the journal PLoS ONE.

Abstract

Because conflicts among social group members are inevitable, their management is crucial for group stability. The rarest and most interesting form of conflict management is policing, i.e., impartial interventions by bystanders, which is of considerable interest due to its potentially moral nature. Here, we provide descriptive and quantitative data on policing in captive chimpanzees. First, we report on a high rate of policing in one captive group characterized by recently introduced females and a rank reversal between two males. We explored the influence of various factors on the occurrence of policing. The results show that only the alpha and beta males acted as arbitrators using manifold tactics to control conflicts, and that their interventions strongly depended on conflict complexity. Secondly, we compared the policing patterns in three other captive chimpanzee groups. We found that although rare, policing was more prevalent at times of increased social instability, both high-ranking males and females performed policing, and conflicts of all sex-dyad combinations were policed. These results suggest that the primary function of policing is to increase group stability. It may thus reflect prosocial behaviour based upon “community concern.” However, policing remains a rare behaviour and more data are needed to test the generality of this hypothesis.

"mOrALiTy cOmEs FrOm GoD!!1!"

Even chimps know you don't "defund the police."

#evolution #chimpanzee #police officer #defund the police #morality #religious morality #social cohesion #conflict resolution #social stability #social instability #religion is a mental illness

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mohameddosou · 5 months ago

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DeepSeek AI: The Catalyst Behind the $1 Trillion Stock Market Shake-Up - An Investigative Guide

Explore the inner workings of DeepSeek AI, the Chinese startup that disrupted global markets, leading to an unprecedented $1 trillion downturn. This guide provides a comprehensive analysis of its technology, the ensuing financial turmoil, and the future implications for AI in finance.

In early 2025, the financial world witnessed an unprecedented event: a sudden and dramatic downturn that erased over $1 trillion from the U.S. stock market. At the heart of this upheaval was DeepSeek AI, a relatively unknown Chinese startup that, within days, became a household name. This guide delves into the origins of DeepSeek AI, the mechanics of its groundbreaking technology, and the cascading effects that led to one of the most significant financial disruptions in recent history.

Origins and Founding

DeepSeek AI was founded by Liang Wenfeng, a young entrepreneur from Hangzhou, China. Inspired by the success of hedge fund manager Jim Simons, Wenfeng sought to revolutionize the financial industry through artificial intelligence. His vision culminated in the creation of the R1 reasoning model, a system designed to optimize trading strategies using advanced AI techniques.

Technological Framework

The R1 model employs a process known as “distillation,” which allows it to learn from other AI models and operate efficiently on less advanced hardware. This approach challenges traditional cloud-computing models by enabling high-performance AI operations on devices like standard laptops. Such efficiency not only reduces costs but also makes advanced AI accessible to a broader range of users.

Strategic Moves

Prior to the release of the R1 model, there was speculation that Wenfeng strategically shorted Nvidia stock, anticipating the disruptive impact his technology would have on the market. Additionally, concerns arose regarding the potential use of proprietary techniques from OpenAI without permission, raising ethical and legal questions about the development of R1.

Advantages of AI-Driven Trading

Artificial intelligence has transformed trading by enabling rapid data analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modeling. AI-driven trading systems can execute complex strategies at speeds unattainable by human traders, leading to increased efficiency and the potential for higher returns.

Case Studies

Before the emergence of DeepSeek AI, several firms successfully integrated AI into their trading operations. For instance, Renaissance Technologies, founded by Jim Simons, utilized quantitative models to achieve remarkable returns. Similarly, firms like Two Sigma and D.E. Shaw employed AI algorithms to analyze vast datasets, informing their trading decisions and yielding significant profits.

Industry Perspectives

Industry leaders have acknowledged the transformative potential of AI in finance. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, noted that advancements in AI efficiency could drive greater adoption across various sectors, including finance. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen highlighted the importance of AI models that can operate on less advanced hardware, emphasizing their potential to democratize access to advanced technologies.

Timeline of Events

The release of DeepSeek’s R1 model marked a pivotal moment in the financial markets. Investors, recognizing the model’s potential to disrupt existing AI paradigms, reacted swiftly. Nvidia, a leading supplier of high-end chips for AI applications, experienced a significant decline in its stock value, dropping 17% and erasing $593 billion in valuation.

Impact Assessment

The shockwaves from DeepSeek’s announcement extended beyond Nvidia. The tech sector as a whole faced a massive sell-off, with over $1 trillion wiped off U.S. tech stocks. Companies heavily invested in AI and related technologies saw their valuations plummet as investors reassessed the competitive landscape.

Global Repercussions

The market turmoil was not confined to the United States. Global markets felt the impact as well. The sudden shift in the AI landscape prompted a reevaluation of tech valuations worldwide, leading to increased volatility and uncertainty in international financial markets.

Technical Vulnerabilities

While the R1 model’s efficiency was lauded, it also exposed vulnerabilities inherent in AI-driven trading. The reliance on “distillation” techniques raised concerns about the robustness of the model’s decision-making processes, especially under volatile market conditions. Additionally, the potential use of proprietary techniques without authorization highlighted the risks associated with rapid AI development.

Systemic Risks

The DeepSeek incident underscored the systemic risks of overreliance on AI in financial markets. The rapid integration of AI technologies, without adequate regulatory frameworks, can lead to unforeseen consequences, including market disruptions and ethical dilemmas. The event highlighted the need for comprehensive oversight and risk management strategies in the deployment of AI-driven trading systems.

Regulatory Scrutiny

In the wake of the market crash, regulatory bodies worldwide initiated investigations into the events leading up to the downturn. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) focused on potential market manipulation, particularly examining the rapid adoption of DeepSeek’s R1 model and its impact on stock valuations. Questions arose regarding the ethical implications of using “distillation” techniques, especially if proprietary models were utilized without explicit permission.

Corporate Responses

Major technology firms responded swiftly to the disruption. Nvidia, facing a significant decline in its stock value, emphasized its commitment to innovation and announced plans to develop more efficient chips to remain competitive. Companies like Microsoft and Amazon, recognizing the potential of DeepSeek’s technology, began exploring partnerships and integration opportunities, despite initial reservations about data security and geopolitical implications.

Public Perception and Media Coverage

The media played a crucial role in shaping public perception of DeepSeek and the ensuing market crash. While some outlets highlighted the technological advancements and potential benefits of democratizing AI, others focused on the risks associated with rapid technological adoption and the ethical concerns surrounding data security and intellectual property. The Guardian noted, “DeepSeek has ripped away AI’s veil of mystique. That’s the real reason the tech bros fear it.”

Redefining AI Development

DeepSeek’s emergence has prompted a reevaluation of AI development paradigms. The success of the R1 model demonstrated that high-performance AI could be achieved without reliance on top-tier hardware, challenging the prevailing notion that cutting-edge technology necessitates substantial financial and computational resources. This shift could lead to more inclusive and widespread AI adoption across various industries.

Geopolitical Considerations

The rise of a Chinese AI firm disrupting global markets has significant geopolitical implications. It underscores China’s growing influence in the technology sector and raises questions about the balance of power in AI innovation. Concerns about data security, intellectual property rights, and the potential for technology to be used as a tool for geopolitical leverage have come to the forefront, necessitating international dialogue and cooperation.

Ethical and Legal Frameworks

The DeepSeek incident highlights the urgent need for robust ethical and legal frameworks governing AI development and deployment. Issues such as the unauthorized use of proprietary models, data privacy, and the potential for market manipulation through AI-driven strategies must be addressed. Policymakers and industry leaders are called upon to establish guidelines that ensure responsible innovation while safeguarding public interest.

The story of DeepSeek AI serves as a pivotal case study in the complex interplay between technology, markets, and society. It illustrates both the transformative potential of innovation and the risks inherent in rapid technological advancement. As we move forward, it is imperative for stakeholders — including technologists, investors, regulators, and the public — to engage in informed dialogue and collaborative action. By doing so, we can harness the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks, ensuring a future where technology serves the greater good.

#deepseek #nvidia #stock market #ai generated

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jcmarchi · 5 months ago

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DeepSeek's AI breakthrough: Fewer resources, big impact

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/deepseeks-ai-breakthrough-fewer-resources-big-impact/

DeepSeek's AI breakthrough: Fewer resources, big impact

On December 26th, a modest-sized Chinese company named DeepSeek introduced advanced AI technology, rivaling the top chatbot systems from giants like OpenAI and Google.

This achievement was noteworthy for its capability and the cost-efficiency with which it was developed. Unlike its large competitors, DeepSeek created its artificial intelligence, DeepSeek-V3, using significantly fewer specialized processors, which are typically essential for such advancements.

Cost efficiency and technological breakthrough

These processors are at the heart of a fierce tech rivalry between the U.S. and China. The U.S. aims to keep its lead in AI by restricting the export of high-end chips, such as those from Nvidia, to China.

However, DeepSeek’s success with fewer resources raises concerns about the effectiveness of U.S. trade policies, which have inadvertently spurred Chinese innovation using more accessible technologies.

DeepSeek-V3 impressively handles tasks like answering queries, solving puzzles, programming, and matching industry standards. Remarkably, it was developed with just around $6 million worth of computing resources, starkly contrasting the $100 million Meta reportedly invested in similar technologies.

Chris V. Nicholson from Page One Ventures pointed out that more companies could afford $6 million than the heftier sums, democratizing access to advanced AI technology.

Strategic implications and global impact of DeepSeek

Previously, experts believed only firms with substantial financial resources could compete with leading AI firms, which train their systems on supercomputers requiring thousands of chips.

DeepSeek, however, managed with just 2,000 chips from Nvidia. This efficient use of limited resources reflects the forced innovation resulting from chip restrictions in China, as Jeffrey Ding from George Washington University noted.

Recently, the U.S. tightened these restrictions to prevent China from acquiring advanced AI chips via third countries. This is part of ongoing efforts to limit Chinese firms’ potential military use of these technologies, which have resorted to stockpiling chips and sourcing them through underground markets.

ChatGPT vs Bard: What are the top key differences?

We’re taking a look at Bard vs ChatGPT and their key differences like technology, internet connection, and training data.

DeepSeek, a company rooted in quantitative stock trading, has been leveraging its profits to invest in Nvidia chips since 2021, fueling its AI research rather than consumer products. This focus has allowed it to bypass stringent Chinese regulations on consumer AI, attracting top talent and exploring diverse applications from poetry to complex examinations.

While leading U.S. firms continue to push AI boundaries, DeepSeek’s recent achievements underline its growing prowess in the field. It also highlights the broader shift towards open-source AI, gaining traction as companies like Meta openly share their technologies. This shift increasingly positions China as a central player in AI development, posing a strategic challenge to U.S. dominance in the field.

As the debate continues over the potential risks of open sourcing AI in the U.S., such as spreading misinformation, the global open source community, increasingly led by China, might shape the future of AI development, suggesting a significant geopolitical shift in the technology landscape.

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rise2research · 6 months ago

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The Biggest Hurdles in Market Research Today

The market research industry has been undergoing significant changes, driven by technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviors, and the increasing demand for real-time insights. Below are the key challenges transforming this dynamic industry:

1. Data Overload and Management

With the proliferation of digital platforms, organizations have access to vast amounts of data. While this presents opportunities, managing and making sense of this data remains a major challenge.

2. Evolving Consumer Behavior

Consumer preferences are changing rapidly due to societal, economic, and technological factors.

3. Integration of Advanced Technologies

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and big data analytics has revolutionized market research.

4. Data Privacy and Ethical Concerns

Stringent data privacy regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, have introduced complexities in data collection and usage.

5. Declining Response Rates

As consumers become increasingly wary of surveys and data collection methods, response rates have dropped.

6. Demand for Real-Time Insights

Businesses now require faster and more actionable insights to stay competitive.

7. Globalization and Cultural Nuances

Conducting market research across diverse geographies and cultures introduces complexities in interpreting data.

8. Budget Constraints and ROI Pressures

Clients increasingly demand more insights at lower costs, challenging research firms to demonstrate the ROI of their services while managing operational expenses.

9. Adapting to Hybrid Research Models

The industry is shifting towards hybrid research methods that combine qualitative and quantitative techniques, as well as traditional and digital tools.

Conclusion

The challenges transforming the market research industry are reshaping its landscape. Companies that proactively address these hurdles through innovation, adaptability, and ethical practices will be better positioned to thrive in this evolving market. Staying ahead of these changes is not just an option—it's a necessity for sustained success.

To know more: data analytics services company

healthcare market research services

#data analytics #market research #data collection #surveyprogramming #datainsights

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rmrkbl-marketing · 1 year ago

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Maximizing Ecommerce Success: A Comprehensive Guide to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Introduction

In the dynamic landscape of online retail, performance metrics are the compass guiding businesses toward success. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) serve as crucial milestones, directing ecommerce entrepreneurs to navigate the complex realm of sales, marketing, and customer service. In this comprehensive guide, we at RMRKBL Marketing delve into the intricate world of KPIs, offering profound insights to empower your business decisions and drive unparalleled growth.

Unveiling the Essence of Performance Indicators

A performance indicator, a beacon in the data-driven journey, is a quantifiable measurement aligning with specific goals. Picture an online retailer aspiring to boost site traffic by 50% in the next year – a noble ambition. Key indicators could include daily unique visitors, traffic sources (paid advertising, SEO, brand advertising), or the holy grail of customer lifetime value.

Decoding Key Performance Indicators

Amidst a plethora of potential metrics, the crux lies in identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) �� impactful data points succinctly reflecting progress toward defined goals. In this pursuit, Shopify's robust reporting and analytics emerge as invaluable tools, boasting over 60 pre-built dashboards to illuminate trends and catalyze informed decision-making.

The Significance of KPIs

Why are KPIs as vital as strategy and goal setting? They transcend mere statistics, offering actionable insights that propel strategic decision-making. Without KPIs, businesses risk navigating uncharted waters, relying on intuition rather than data-driven precision. Harnessing KPIs fosters a deeper understanding of your business and clientele, fostering informed strategies for online sales growth.

Classifying Key Performance Indicators

KPIs, versatile in nature, span qualitative, quantitative, predictive, and historical dimensions, permeating various business operations. In the ecommerce domain, KPIs elegantly align with five core categories: Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Manufacturing, and Project Management.

Sales: A Symphony of Success

In the realm of sales, mastering KPIs is akin to orchestrating a symphony of success. Ecommerce retailers can fine-tune their performance through vigilant tracking of crucial metrics such as total sales, average order

size, gross profit, average margin, and more. Each metric unveils a facet of your business, from understanding customer behavior through conversion rates and shopping cart abandonment rates to strategic insights on product affinity and competitive pricing.

Unlocking Sales KPIs

1. Total Sales

Ecommerce success hinges on understanding sales patterns. Monitor sales on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis to discern trends and capitalize on peak periods.

2. Average Order Size

Delve into customer spending habits with the average order size, a pivotal KPI reflecting the typical expenditure per order. This insight informs pricing strategies and product bundling opportunities.

3. Gross Profit

Measure business efficiency by calculating gross profit – the difference between total sales and the cost of goods sold. A nuanced understanding ensures profitability and strategic decision-making.

4. Conversion Rate

Efficiency in converting visitors to customers is paramount. The conversion rate, expressed as a percentage, illuminates the success of your ecommerce site in turning visitors into buyers.

5. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

The heartbeat of sustainable growth lies in the customer lifetime value. Nurture long-term relationships by understanding how much a customer contributes over their engagement with your brand.

6. Revenue per Visitor (RPV)

Evaluate the effectiveness of your site in converting visitors into revenue. Low RPV prompts a deep dive into analytics, optimizing the user experience to drive more online sales.

7. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

Strategically invest in customer acquisition by deciphering the cost of acquiring new customers. Analyze marketing spend breakdown to ensure efficient customer acquisition.

8. Inventory Levels

Maintain optimal stock levels by closely monitoring inventory metrics. Insights into stock turnover, product velocity, and sitting stock guide inventory management strategies.

9. Competitive Pricing

Benchmark against competitors by scrutinizing pricing strategies. An agile approach to pricing ensures your business remains competitive and attuned to market dynamics.

10. Product Affinity

Uncover cross-promotion opportunities through product affinity analysis. Identify products frequently purchased together, fueling targeted marketing strategies.

11. Product Relationship

Strategically plan cross-selling tactics by understanding which products are viewed consecutively. Leverage this KPI to enhance product recommendations and elevate user experience.

12. Churn Rate

Customer retention is paramount. The churn rate reveals how swiftly customers are departing. Swift action can mitigate losses and foster sustained loyalty.

13. Cost per Click (CPC)

For paid advertising success, track the cost incurred for each click. Optimize ad campaigns by aligning CPC with conversion rates, ensuring a balanced marketing budget.

Marketing Mastery: Unleashing Potency Through KPIs

Marketing KPIs wield immense power in sculpting the success story of your ecommerce venture. From driving website traffic to deciphering customer behavior, these metrics guide strategic marketing endeavors.

Navigating Marketing KPIs

1. Website Traffic

Website traffic serves as the heartbeat of ecommerce success. Monitor the total number of visits to your site, interpreting trends and refining marketing strategies accordingly.

2. New Visitors vs. Returning Visitors

Distinguish between first-time visitors and returning patrons. This insight aids in assessing the efficacy of digital marketing campaigns and tailoring strategies for diverse audiences.

3. Time on Site

Evaluate user engagement by analyzing the time visitors spend on your website. A deeper engagement with blog content and landing pages signals brand affinity.

4. Bounce Rate

High bounce rates demand attention. Investigate the reasons behind visitors exiting after viewing a single page, optimizing user experience and content relevance.

5. Page Views per Visit

Navigate user journeys by understanding the average number of pages viewed during each visit. Balance engagement with ease of navigation to enhance the user experience.

6. Average Session Duration

Dive into user behavior with the average session duration. Longer durations indicate profound interactions with your site, particularly with blog content and landing pages.

7. Traffic Source

Decipher the origins of website traffic through the traffic source KPI. Channel-specific insights guide focused marketing efforts, whether from organic search, paid ads, or social media.

8. Mobile Site Traffic

Optimize for mobile success by monitoring the influx of users accessing your store via mobile devices. A mobile-friendly site ensures a seamless experience for a diverse audience.

9. Newsletter Subscribers

Harness the potential of email marketing by tracking newsletter subscribers. Analyze demographics to tailor content and maximize reach, ensuring alignment with target audiences.

10. Email Open Rate

Elevate email marketing effectiveness by scrutinizing the percentage of subscribers opening your emails. Test subject lines and maintain list hygiene for optimal engagement.

11. Email Click-Through Rate (CTR)

Drive traffic to your site with a high email click-through rate. This KPI measures the percentage of subscribers clicking on links, a pivotal factor in conversion success.

12. Social Followers and Fans

Measure brand loyalty and awareness through social media metrics. The number of followers and fans on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter signifies audience engagement.

13. Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)

Evaluate ad campaign efficacy by gauging the revenue earned for every dollar spent on advertising. ROAS serves as a compass, steering advertising strategies toward profitability.

14. Cost per Click (CPC)

Unveil the cost incurred for each click on paid ads. Efficiently manage marketing budgets by aligning CPC with conversion rates, ensuring optimal returns on investment.

15. Social Media Engagement

Quantify brand engagement with social media followers through the social media engagement KPI. Active interaction signals a vibrant community and potent brand-consumer connections.

16. Clicks

Track the total number of clicks across various platforms – website, social media, email, and ads. A holistic perspective aids in refining content and optimizing engagement strategies.

17. Average Click-Through Rate (CTR)

Measure user engagement with the average click-through rate, revealing the percentage of users clicking on links. Optimize content placement and messaging for heightened effectiveness.

18. Average Position

Ascend the search engine ranks with insights from the average position KPI. Understand your site's SEO and paid search performance, striving for the coveted top position.

19. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Traffic Volume

Evaluate the success of PPC campaigns by tracking traffic volume. Strategic adjustments based on PPC insights ensure targeted traffic influx to your site.

20. Blog Traffic

Uncover the impact of blog content by isolating blog traffic metrics. Compare blog traffic against overall site traffic for a nuanced understanding of content effectiveness.

21. Number and Quality of Product Reviews

Harness the power of social proof with product reviews. Track quantity and content to leverage customer feedback for SEO, brand credibility, and business refinement.

22. Banner or Display Advertising CTRs

Optimize banner and display ad performance by scrutinizing click-through rates. Insights into copy, imagery, and offer effectiveness guide strategic adjustments for enhanced engagement.

23. Affiliate Performance Rates

Leverage affiliate marketing with insights into performance rates. Identify successful channels, refining strategies to maximize the impact of affiliate partnerships.

Elevating Customer Service through KPI Excellence

Customer service KPIs stand as sentinels, guarding the gateway to customer satisfaction. Scrutinize these metrics to ensure your support teams exceed expectations and cultivate lasting customer relationships.

Pioneering Customer Service KPIs

1. Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT)

Quantify customer satisfaction through the CSAT metric. Harness customer feedback to refine service strategies and foster a positive brand perception.

2. Net Promoter Score (NPS)

Measure customer loyalty with the Net Promoter Score. Identify brand advocates and detractors, directing efforts toward building a robust community of brand enthusiasts.

3. First Response Time

Efficient customer service hinges on swift responses. Monitor the time taken for the first response to gauge support team efficacy and ensure timely issue resolution.

4. Ticket Resolution Time

Expedite issue resolution by scrutinizing ticket resolution times. Streamline support processes based on these insights to enhance customer satisfaction.

5. Customer Retention Rate

A flourishing business thrives on customer retention. The retention rate KPI illuminates the success of your efforts in cultivating lasting relationships with clients.

6. Customer Complaint Resolution

Transform challenges into opportunities by mastering customer complaint resolution. Evaluate resolution times and customer feedback to fortify your support ecosystem.

7. Service Level Agreement (SLA) Adherence

Set and surpass customer expectations with SLA adherence. Track the percentage of support requests meeting agreed-upon response and resolution times.

8. Customer Effort Score (CES)

Simplify customer interactions with the Customer Effort Score. Minimize friction in customer journeys, fostering seamless and enjoyable experiences.

9. Contact Volume

Analyze contact volume to understand support team workload. Proactive adjustments to staffing and resources ensure consistent service excellence.

10. Customer Service Channel Performance

Decipher the effectiveness of various customer service channels – live chat, email, phone. Optimize resource allocation based on channel performance to maximize customer satisfaction.

11. Agent Performance

Empower support teams through insights into agent performance. Identify top performers and areas for improvement, ensuring a high standard of service across the board.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of KPIs for Ecommerce Triumph

In the intricate tapestry of ecommerce success, KPIs serve as the warp and weft, weaving a narrative of progress and prosperity. Unleash the potential of your online venture by embracing the nuanced insights offered by sales, marketing, and customer service KPIs. Propel your business forward, navigate challenges, and sculpt a legacy of unparalleled success in the competitive realm of online retail.

FAQs

Why are KPIs crucial for ecommerce success?

KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators, provide quantifiable insights into the performance of various aspects of your ecommerce business. They guide strategic decision-making, enhance customer experiences, and drive overall success by aligning actions with specific goals.

How can I use KPIs to improve my online sales?

Analyzing sales KPIs such as total sales, average order size, conversion rate, and customer lifetime value empowers you to optimize pricing strategies, understand customer behavior, and implement targeted marketing efforts for increased online sales.

What role do marketing KPIs play in ecommerce?

Marketing KPIs, including website traffic, engagement metrics, and return on ad spend, offer actionable insights into the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. These metrics help refine strategies, boost brand awareness, and drive targeted traffic to your ecommerce site.

How do customer service KPIs contribute to business growth?

Customer service KPIs, such as customer satisfaction scores, first response time, and ticket resolution time, play a pivotal role in fostering positive customer relationships. Meeting and exceeding customer expectations leads to increased loyalty, positive word-of-mouth, and sustained business growth.

Can KPIs really help in inventory management?

Absolutely. Sales KPIs related to inventory levels, product affinity, and competitive pricing provide crucial insights into stock turnover, product popularity, and market competitiveness. Effectively managing inventory based on these KPIs ensures optimal stock levels and minimizes wastage.

Are there specific KPIs for evaluating the success of PPC campaigns?

Yes, monitoring KPIs such as pay-per-click (PPC) traffic volume, cost per click (CPC), and return on ad spend (ROAS) provides a comprehensive view of your PPC campaign performance. These metrics help optimize ad budgets, refine targeting, and maximize the impact of your advertising efforts.

Can KPIs help me understand the effectiveness of my social media marketing?

Certainly. Social media KPIs like social followers, engagement metrics, and click-through rates provide insights into the impact of your social media efforts. Understanding these metrics enables you to refine content strategies, build brand loyalty, and expand your social media presence.

How often should I review and update my KPIs?

Regular reviews are crucial to adapt to changing market dynamics. Consider monthly reviews for short-term KPIs and quarterly or annually for long-term goals. Adjust KPIs based on business priorities, industry trends, and the evolving needs of your ecommerce venture.

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