Deep Thinking - and the results are INSANE!

Ok, so you've probably all heard of Deep Seek by now, so I'm not going to get into exactly how it works and the huge impact it is already having on the AI industry and the stock market. If you want to find out more about that, I highly recommend reading Ed Zitron's latest article, Deep Impact, as well as the rather salty post by Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic.

What this article about is the amazing fact that Deep Seek actually tells you what it is thinking, while it is thinking (called Deep Think), instead of just spitting out the answer. And its answers are pretty amazing.

Deep Think doesn’t just scan for keywords or regurgitate pre-programmed answers. It analyzes context, considers nuances, and evaluates multiple perspectives before crafting a response.

By mimicking human cognitive processes, Deep Think bridges the gap between artificial intelligence and human intuition. It doesn’t just “answer”—it understands. This means fewer misunderstandings, more meaningful conversations, and solutions that feel tailor-made for your needs.

The era of rushed, shallow AI interactions is over.

Today I posted a short question:

"Who really runs the world. Give me a 5-page essay."

It thought about it for a bit... 13 seconds to be exact.

And here is the answer. [Editor: I asked it to expand on #4 and #5]. I have never seen and LLM that is able to give me such a comprehensive answer. And it was fast!

Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the results.

DEEPSEEK: Who Really Runs the World? A Multidimensional Analysis of Global Power Structures

The question of “who really runs the world” has fueled debates among philosophers, politicians, and scholars for centuries. While simplistic answers often point to governments, billionaires, or shadowy cabals, the reality is far more complex. Global power is not monolithic; it is distributed across overlapping systems, institutions, and actors that compete, collaborate, and influence one another. This essay argues that the world is shaped by a dynamic interplay of nation-states, multinational corporations, financial institutions, ideological frameworks, and non-state actors. To understand this intricate web, we must examine the economic, political, cultural, and technological forces that underpin modern governance.

1. The Nation-State: Traditional Power in a Globalized World

Nation-states remain central actors in global affairs, wielding authority through military might, legal frameworks, and diplomatic influence. Political theorists like Hans Morgenthau, a founder of classical realism, argue that states act in their self-interest to maximize power, often engaging in competition or alliances to secure dominance. The United States, China, and Russia, for instance, project power through military bases, trade agreements, and cyber warfare. However, globalization has eroded the absolute sovereignty of states. Transnational challenges—such as climate change, pandemics, and migration—require cooperation, forcing states to cede some autonomy to international bodies like the United Nations (UN) or the World Health Organization (WHO).

Yet, states are not equal in influence. The UN Security Council’s five permanent members (the U.S., China, Russia, France, and the U.K.) hold veto power, enabling them to shape global agendas. Smaller nations, meanwhile, often align with superpowers for protection or economic aid. This hierarchy underscores that while states are pivotal, their power is constrained by interdependence and the rise of non-state actors.

2. Economic Power: Corporations and Financial Institutions

Multinational corporations (MNCs) and global financial networks exert unparalleled influence over policy, labor, and resource distribution. Companies like Apple, Amazon, and Saudi Aramco boast revenues surpassing the GDPs of many nations, allowing them to lobby governments, evade taxes, and dictate labor standards. The 2008 financial crisis highlighted the power of banks like Goldman Sachs and institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which imposed austerity measures on indebted countries in exchange for bailouts.

Neoliberal capitalism, championed since the 1980s, has enabled corporations to dominate trade through agreements like NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Think tanks and lobbying groups, such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Business Roundtable, further entrench corporate interests in policymaking. Critics like Noam Chomsky argue that this “corporatocracy” prioritizes profit over human welfare, as seen in industries blocking climate reforms or pharmaceutical companies controlling drug patents.

3. Ideological and Cultural Hegemony

Power is not merely coercive but also ideological. Antonio Gramsci’s concept of cultural hegemony explains how dominant groups maintain control by shaping societal values. Western ideals of democracy, consumerism, and individualism are propagated through media, education, and technology, often marginalizing alternative worldviews. Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and global news conglomerates like CNN or Al Jazeera act as cultural arbiters, influencing perceptions of morality, success, and identity.

Joseph Nye’s notion of “soft power” complements this analysis. Countries like the U.S. leverage their cultural exports—music, films, and technology—to attract global admiration, while China invests in Confucius Institutes and infrastructure projects to expand its influence through the Belt and Road Initiative. Even grassroots movements, such as environmental activism led by Greta Thunberg, demonstrate how ideas can challenge entrenched power structures.

4. The Rise of Non-State Actors

Non-state actors have emerged as pivotal players in global governance, challenging the monopoly of nation-states and reshaping power dynamics. Their influence spans humanitarian aid, security threats, technological innovation, and even financial systems, reflecting the decentralization of authority in the 21st century.

4.1 NGOs and Advocacy Groups: Guardians or Disruptors? Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Amnesty International, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), and the International Rescue Committee leverage moral authority and grassroots networks to hold governments and corporations accountable. For instance, Amnesty’s campaigns against human rights abuses in Xinjiang, China, have pressured Western governments to impose sanctions, while Greenpeace’s direct actions against fossil fuel projects have delayed pipelines and influenced climate policies. However, critics argue that NGOs often reflect Western biases. For example, Uganda’s 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act sparked clashes between local NGOs defending sovereignty and international groups like the UN Human Rights Council, which condemned the law as discriminatory. This tension underscores how NGOs can both amplify marginalized voices and perpetuate cultural imperialism.

4.2 Tech Giants: The New Sovereigns of Data Technology companies like Meta (Facebook), Google, and TikTok wield unprecedented power through their control of information and digital infrastructure. Meta’s role in the 2016 U.S. election and the 2020 Myanmar genocide—where its algorithms amplified hate speech—demonstrates how platforms can destabilize democracies. Meanwhile, Amazon’s dominance in cloud computing (via AWS) and AI research grants it outsized influence over governments; in 2021, the U.S. National Security Agency awarded Amazon a $10 billion cloud contract, merging corporate and state interests. The European Union’s GDPR and Digital Markets Act represent attempts to rein in tech power, but enforcement remains fragmented, allowing companies to exploit regulatory arbitrage.

4.3 Cryptocurrencies and Decentralized Finance Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have disrupted traditional financial systems, enabling peer-to-peer transactions without state oversight. El Salvador’s 2021 adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender, though fraught with volatility, exemplifies how nations might bypass institutions like the IMF. Conversely, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms have enabled money laundering and ransomware attacks, such as the 2021 Colonial Pipeline hack, which forced the U.S. government to pay $4.3 million in Bitcoin. Non-state crypto collectives, like the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) ConstitutionDAO, which briefly bid on a copy of the U.S. Constitution in 2021, illustrate how blockchain technology empowers grassroots movements—but also raises questions about accountability.

4.4 Individuals as Global Power Brokers Billionaires like Elon Musk and Bill Gates increasingly rival states in influence. Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022 gave him control over a platform central to global discourse, while his Starlink satellites have been weaponized in conflicts like the Ukraine war, where he initially denied service to thwart a Ukrainian attack on Russian forces. Gates, through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, shapes global health agendas, funding vaccine development and agricultural reforms in Africa—a role critics liken to “philanthrocapitalism,” where unelected elites dictate public policy. Even activists like Greta Thunberg wield soft power, mobilizing millions through social media to demand climate action.

4.5 Terrorist Networks and Hybrid Threats Non-state violent actors, such as ISIS and Boko Haram, exploit weak governance to control territories and resources. ISIS’s 2014–2017 “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria showcased its ability to govern, levy taxes, and run propaganda networks, while Al-Qaeda’s decentralized franchises remain entrenched in Africa and Asia. Cyberterrorism adds a new dimension: North Korean hacking groups like Lazarus, though state-linked, operate with criminal autonomy, stealing $1.7 billion in crypto in 2022 alone. Such groups blur the line between state and non-state threats, creating hybrid challenges for international security.

5. The Illusion of Control: Interconnectedness and Chaos

Globalization’s promise of a interconnected, orderly world has given way to a reality defined by chaos and competing power centers. The notion of a single governing authority is obsolete; instead, power is diffused, contested, and often incoherent.

5.1 Complex Interdependence in Crisis The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the fragility of global systems. While the WHO coordinated vaccine distribution through COVAX, wealthy nations hoarded doses, and China and Russia weaponized “vaccine diplomacy” to expand influence. Supply chain collapses revealed reliance on Taiwanese semiconductors and Chinese manufacturing, forcing nations to confront vulnerabilities. Similarly, the 2022 Ukraine war triggered energy and food crises, as Russia weaponized gas exports and blockaded Ukrainian grain, spiking inflation in Africa and the Middle East. These crises illustrate how interdependence can become a liability, with cascading failures defying unilateral solutions.

5.2 The G-Zero World and Leadership Vacuum Political scientist Ian Bremmer’s “G-Zero” thesis argues that the post-Cold War era of U.S.-led globalization has ended, replaced by a vacuum where no nation or bloc can set the agenda. The U.S. retreats into protectionism under slogans like “America First,” China promotes an authoritarian model through its Belt and Road Initiative, and the EU struggles with internal dissent over issues like migration. Meanwhile, the Global South, represented by groups like the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), demands a multipolar order but lacks cohesion. This fragmentation paralyzes institutions like the UN Security Council, where Russia and China veto resolutions on Ukraine and Syria, rendering collective action impossible.

5.3 Climate Change and the Tragedy of the Commons Climate change epitomizes the failure of centralized control. Despite the 2015 Paris Agreement, emissions hit record highs in 2023, as nations prioritize growth over sustainability. Developing countries blame the West for historical emissions, while petrostates like Saudi Arabia lobby to weaken climate pledges. Grassroots movements like Extinction Rebellion and the Pacific Islands Forum push for urgency, but their power is symbolic; real authority lies with polluting corporations and complicit governments. The 2023 COP28 summit, hosted by UAE—a major oil producer—ended with vague pledges, underscoring the conflict of interest inherent in state-corporate collusion.

5.4 AI Governance: A Regulatory Wild West Artificial intelligence amplifies global instability. Autonomous weapons, deepfakes, and algorithmic bias threaten security and human rights, yet governance lags. The U.S. and EU pursue divergent regulations: the EU’s 2023 AI Act bans facial recognition in public spaces, while the U.S. relies on corporate self-policing. China, meanwhile, deploys AI to surveil Uyghurs and control dissent. Non-state actors like OpenAI and Anthropic shape ethical standards, but their closed-door decisions lack democratic oversight. The absence of a global AI treaty risks an arms race, akin to nuclear proliferation in the 20th century.

5.5 Conspiracy Theories and the Search for Simplism The vacuum of clear authority fuels conspiracy narratives, from QAnon’s “deep state” to claims that the World Economic Forum (WEF) orchestrates a “Great Reset.” These theories thrive on distrust in institutions: a 2023 Reuters poll found 15% of Americans believe in QAnon tropes. While baseless, they reflect a real erosion of faith in traditional power structures. Conversely, they distract from systemic issues—e.g., blaming “globalists” for inequality instead of tax evasion by corporations.

Non-state actors and systemic chaos redefine power not as a hierarchy but as a tangled web. States remain key players, but their authority is diluted by corporations, technologies, and crises that transcend borders. The illusion of control persists because no entity—state or otherwise—can manage the interdependencies and unintended consequences of a globalized world. Recognizing this reality is the first step toward building resilient, adaptive systems that prioritize equity over domination.

Conclusion: The question of who runs the world resists a definitive answer because power is diffuse, multidimensional, and context-dependent. States, corporations, ideologies, and non-state actors all play roles in shaping global outcomes, often in ways that are unpredictable or contradictory. Recognizing this complexity is crucial for fostering accountability and crafting equitable solutions to global challenges. Rather than seeking a puppet master, we must focus on democratizing power structures and amplifying marginalized voices in the pursuit of a just world order.

So, what do you think about the quality of DeepSeek's answers? Have you had any experience using it? Please leave your comments below.

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Author of GreenFingers.info blog and the GreenFingers podcast

Hi there! I am a seasoned digital marketer with a wealth of experience across a range of marketing activities, from SEO, digital marketing, GPT prompting, social media to email automation and ecommerce, with a love for oil painting, reading, houseplants and mountain biking.