A one-year-old Chinese startup, DeepSeek, has stunned the global AI scene with its ChatGPT-like model, R1, reportedly developed at a fraction of the cost. The breakthrough sent shockwaves through US tech giants, wiping out nearly $600 billion in Nvidia’s market value. Matt Armitage, host of Mattsplained, unpacks what this means for the AI race and global tech dominance.

Other stories we covered:

• Malaysiakini laptop seizure sparks press freedom concerns: In what many are calling a troubling attack on press freedom, police confiscated a laptop belonging to a Malaysiakini editor as part of an investigation linked to Khairy Jamaluddin’s podcast, Keluar Sekejap. Dr. Benjamin Loh, Senior Lecturer at the School of Media & Communications at Taylor’s University, explains why this is a troubling case of government overreach.

• Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow defends leadership: Amid speculation of a DAP power struggle, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has hit back at critics questioning his independence, dismissing claims that his governance is an act of “disobedience.” The comments come amid an alleged tussle between Chow and former Penang CM Lim Guan Eng, with party insiders split over leadership dynamics. Predeep Nambiar, Northern Region Bureau Chief from FMT, weighs in on Chow’s political balancing act.

• RM100 million plan to save Malayan tigers: With fewer than 150 Malayan tigers left in the wild, a RM100 million conservation project has been launched at the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve in Pahang. The initiative, backed by the UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, aims to strengthen anti-poaching efforts, restore habitats, and support breeding programs. Bakhtiar Talhah, Chief of Government Relations & Public Affairs of the Enggang Group and Mark Rayan Darmaraj, Country Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society break down the key challenges and urgent interventions needed.

• Harith Iskander’s ‘ham’ joke controversy: A Facebook joke about “ham sup kopi” by comedian Harith Iskander, referencing the KK Mart halal controversy, has snowballed into a full-blown national debate on satire and religious sensitivities. We discuss the situation.

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Produced by: Sharaad Kuttan, Juliet Jacobs, Alia Zefri, Sneha Harikannan

Presented by: Sharaad Kuttan, Dashran Yohan

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Categories:  technology,  economy,  politics,  government,  international,  environment,  performing arts,  markets

Tags:  malaysian tigers,  press freedom,  malaysiakini,  dap,  chow kon yeow,  lim guan eng,  tigers,  wildlife conservation,  harith iskander,