The race for AI dominance is on

Unless you’ve been off-grid, you’ll probably know that recent AI news has been dominated by China’s new start-up, DeepSeek.

It quickly surpassed ChatGPT in new app downloads and sent US tech stocks tumbling.

But now it’s facing allegations from OpenAI that DeepSeek may have copied its models without permission.

According to The Conversation, OpenAI told The New York Times that they’re, “Reviewing indications that DeepSeek may have inappropriately distilled our models.”?

AI model distillation refers to a student model that is trained on the outputs of a larger, more complex teacher model. Over time, the student learns to mimic the teacher, achieving nearly the same results but in a more efficient way.

OpenAI believes DeepSeek has trained its own model with observed outputs from OpenAI.

The problem is, there’s no real way to prove it.?

But the battle goes on and AI continues to evolve. OpenAI just released O3-mini and claims it thinks harder and gives better answers.

For users, this competition is great news. More AI models mean more choices, better performance, and lower costs.?

But the allegations made by OpenAI also spark concerns about trust and where AI-generated content has come from.

Users need to know if they can trust their AI tools, and for maritime stakeholders who are using AI to make safety-critical decisions in often challenging conditions, trust is critical.?

AI watermarking could play a role. This new technique is being explored to verify whether AI-generated content or decisions can be traced back to their original sources. This could help users build trust in AI models used to assist with critical decision-making.?

If you’re interested in learning more about AI in maritime, check out Thetius’ free articles and research here.

LATEST NEWS

In shipping and maritime news this week, A.P. Moller - Maersk and Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, have signed an agreement to upgrade Inmarsat satellite communications services across Maersk’s global fleet of approximately 340 container ships. The agreement will see bandwidth enhancements rolled out across Maersk’s entire fleet of owned container ships between 2025 and 2026.

Norway-headquartered G2 Ocean is to deploy StormGeo’s voyage optimisation solution across its fleet of 120 vessels. StormGeo’s solution enables both shoreside and onboard teams to plan and execute optimised, safe voyages.

G2 Ocean, a Norwegian ship operator within the open hatch segment, has selected Seaber.io's chartering and schedule optimisation solution for its fleet. G2 Ocean aims to leverage Saber's AI-platform to optimise fleet planning, enhance operational efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint.

A new port service-focused intelligent model, known as the Ark TaaS (Trade as a Service) model, recently began a public beta phase in Qingdao, Shandong province. The model is a collaborative project between Qingdao Port of Shandong Port Group and Shandong Port Science and Technology Group.

Hanwha Power Systems and Hanwha Ocean have embarked on a partnership with Baker Hughes to develop ammonia gas turbines for ships.

Maritime AI company Windward has introduced Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection, an AI-driven solution to safeguard vital maritime assets such as cables, pipelines, and rigs.

If you would like to stay on top of the latest maritime headlines, check out Thetius IQ. It’s a one-stop shop for all maritime news, research, and in-depth articles, and features a comprehensive organisation database.

The latest insight from the Thetius team

Free report: From Data to Action: Unlocking the Value of HFD to Enhance Safety and Achieve Ship Performance Goals

For decades, noon reports, a once-daily snapshot of a vessel’s performance, have been the cornerstone of voyage tracking and optimisation. These reports have provided valuable insights into key metrics such as fuel consumption, speed, and weather conditions. However, their limitations are becoming increasingly evident in today’s fast-paced, efficiency-driven environment. With the advent of high-frequency data (HFD) systems, the industry is poised to undergo a transformative shift.

Our latest report, commissioned by Danelec, explores the shift from traditional low-frequency data (LFD) methods to high-frequency data systems, analysing their role in transforming maritime operations. By examining the current industry trends, the role of data today and the challenges and opportunities of HFD. The report provides actionable insights into building a data-driven future for the industry.

Download the report here.

Are you joining us for our next webinar??

Accurate emissions reporting is no longer optional - it’s critical for compliance, performance, and environmental responsibility. Yet, implementing effective systems and transitioning to direct emissions monitoring can feel overwhelming.

This one-hour webinar created in partnership with SailPlan breaks down the challenges and opportunities of emissions monitoring in the maritime industry. You’ll learn how to harness high-quality data, integrate innovative monitoring technologies, and overcome common barriers, all while driving compliance and operational excellence.

By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped with actionable strategies to future-proof your fleet and enhance sustainability.

Register here

New articles released since the last edition of The Brief

An exploration of the potential benefits of the S-100 framework

The article explores advancements in autonomous vessel navigation, stressing the need for accurate data for safe operations. It highlights onboard sensors and shore-accessible data for precise navigation and monitoring. Machine-readable S-100 data standards enable automation while supporting human oversight. Enhanced data also helps mitigate legal disputes and improve claims management with reliable historical and real-time information.

For further insight into the areas highlighted in this article, download our thought leadership report, ‘New Waters’, created in partnership with the UK Hydrographic Office.?You can download a copy of the full report here.?

Subscribers to the Thetius Intelligence Platform can access all of our reports and content here.

If you are not subscribed and would like to find out more about our research and reports, request a callback with our team.