Can the US Wake Up from Its Arrogance? Did China Politely Wake Us Up?

In a world where innovation is the lifeblood of economic progress, the United States has long prided itself on being a global leader in technology and innovation. However, recent developments have highlighted a troubling trend: the US's reluctance to support groundbreaking ideas and inventors, leading to missed opportunities and stunted economic growth. This week's spotlight on the Chinese open project DeepSeek AI serves as a stark reminder of this issue.

DeepSeek AI: A Wake-Up Call

DeepSeek AI, a small Chinese startup, has shaken the AI sector to its core. Founded in 2023, DeepSeek's AI models, DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1, have proven to be on par with the most advanced models from US-based companies like OpenAI. What sets DeepSeek apart is its ability to achieve these results at a fraction of the cost, using less-advanced chips and innovative software optimizations. This has led to a significant disruption in the market, with major US tech stocks, including Nvidia, experiencing substantial losses.

DeepSeek's success underscores a critical point: the US's failure to support and nurture its own innovators can have far-reaching consequences. By ignoring or underfunding promising technologies, the US risks falling behind in the global innovation race.

American Innovators Shunned by Arrogant US investors.

The story of DeepSeek AI is not an isolated incident. Throughout history, numerous American inventors have faced rejection and lack of support from US business leaders, only to find success abroad. Here are a few notable examples:

• W. Edwards Deming: An American statistician and quality control expert, Deming's methods were largely ignored in the US. However, Japan embraced his ideas on quality management, leading to a manufacturing revolution.
• Chester Carlson: The inventor of xerography (photocopying), Carlson struggled to find support in the US. It wasn't until he partnered with the Haloid Company (later Xerox) that his invention gained traction, initially more popular in Europe.
• Philo Farnsworth: The inventor of the first fully functional all-electronic image pickup device (video camera tube), Farnsworth faced significant challenges in the US. His work was more appreciated in Europe.
• Robert Kearns: The inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper, Kearns faced rejection from major US automakers. He eventually won patent infringement lawsuits against Ford and Chrysler, but his invention was more readily adopted by foreign car manufacturers.
• Igor Sikorsky: Although originally from Russia, Sikorsky became a US citizen and developed the first successful helicopter. His early designs were not well-received in the US, but his work gained significant attention and support in Europe.
• Nikola Tesla: A brilliant inventor who pioneered alternating current (AC) electricity, radio, and even concepts for wireless power, Tesla struggled financially and was often overshadowed by contemporaries like Thomas Edison. His ideas, such as remote controllers and smartphone antennas, were too advanced for the technology and infrastructure of his time2.

The Story of Homeless Educator's Vision

Homeless Educator, a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) developer and educator, has faced similar challenges. Despite his innovative ideas to reshape education through mobile learning in creative community spaces, He struggled to find support in the US. His vision was to make education accessible to the World.

In 30 seconds, he nudged Harvard & MIT to add low-cost?bachelors to their edX platform (https://youtu.be/1Xpkd3RXd_o?si=svO3gE7d1FI0uudY) edX founder absolutely agreed with him on the future?of?education and added https://www.edx.org/bachelors?A short time after edX, Coursera followed?up making college accessible to 200 million students.

His story is a testament to the potential that lies within individuals who are often overlooked by the mainstream. His work with the World Mentoring Academy and his efforts to provide high-demand skills to students through creative spaces have made a significant impact, even if it hasn't received the recognition it deserves in the US.

Conclusion

The stories of DeepSeek AI, W. Edwards Deming, Chester Carlson, Philo Farnsworth, Robert Kearns, Igor Sikorsky, Nikola Tesla, and Homeless Educator highlight a critical issue: the US's reluctance to support and nurture its own innovators. By failing to recognize and invest in groundbreaking ideas, the US risks losing its competitive edge in the global innovation race. It's time for the US to wake up from its arrogance and embrace the potential of its homegrown talent before it's too late.