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DeepSeek
by Dane Czaplicki on Jan 31, 2025
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This week, we got a wake-up call in the AI world. DeepSeek dropped a bomb—faster, cheaper, open-source AI that could change the entire landscape. Some people panicked. Some got excited. The markets? A little bit of both. Nvidia took a hit (down almost 18% at one point), but then buyers showed up, because if AI is about to explode, you’re still going to need the best chips. Right? Wrong?
I was at the annual winter GoBundance[i] conference this week, and if there was one theme that came up over and over again in nearly every sidebar conversation, it was how AI is revolutionizing small business. Not mega-cap tech. Not trillion-dollar giants. Small business. I heard story after story—three guys doing what used to take 18 people and 6-12 months… now with 15 AI agents and just a couple of months. The efficiency gains are already happening, and DeepSeek just poured fuel on the fire.
“As AI gets more efficient and accessible, we will see its use skyrocket, turning it into a commodity we just can’t get enough of,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote this week. He went on to compare it to the early internet. We’re moving from “building websites as the main business” to “actually building internet-native companies.” That’s a game-changer.
What does it mean for investing? AI isn’t a winner-take-all game anymore. The monopolistic vision of one AI overlord running the world is getting flipped on its head. We’re seeing the democratization of AI—cheaper, more accessible, and integrated into every business. For Nvidia, this could be a temporary headwind… or a massive long-term tailwind. More AI agents running in more businesses means more chips. Some will be okay with lower-cost entry-level chips, but others will need Nvidia’s high-end GPUs. Either way, demand isn’t going away.
At Members’ Wealth, I talk to entrepreneurs, executives, and real estate investors every day, and one thing is clear: the ability to adapt and execute is more valuable than ever. AI isn’t coming. It’s here. And if you’re not using it yet, you’re already behind.
This week was a healthy gut check for over-levered AI trades in the market, but for humanity? It might have been the launchpad.
Thoughts? Are you in the “excited” camp or the “terrified” camp? 🚀
[i] GoBundance: A high-level mastermind group for successful entrepreneurs, executives, and investors focused on wealth-building, health, adventure, and contribution.
Investment advisory services offered through Member's Wealth, LLC, a registered investment advisor. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The S&P 500 index is designed to be a broad based unmanaged leading indicator of U.S. equities and is meant to reflect the risk/return characteristics of the large cap universe or representative of the equity market in general. The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) is an American stock market that handles electronic securities trading around the world. The Russell 2000 index is an index measuring the performance of approximately 2,000 small-cap companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which is made up of 3,000 of the biggest U.S. stocks. The Russell 2000 serves as a benchmark for small-cap stocks in the United States. Visit www.russell.com/indexes/ for more information regarding Russell indices. The MSCI EAFE Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the US & Canada. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index, is a broad base, market capitalization-weighted bond market index representing intermediate term investment grade bonds traded in the United States.
About the Author – Dane Czaplicki, CFA®
Dane Czaplicki is CEO of Members’ Wealth, a boutique wealth management firm that offers a comprehensive approach to serving individuals, families, business owners, and institutions. The firm’s goal is to preserve and grow its clients’ wealth to endure over time, while thoughtfully evolving its strategy to suit an ever-changing world. With over 20 years of wealth management experience, Dane and the Members' Wealth team thrive on bringing clarity and confidence to clients' unique situations. He believes everyone needs sound financial advice from someone whose interests are aligned with theirs, and is determined to put service before all else.
Dane received his MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University. Outside work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, hiking and camping, reading, running, and playing with his dog. To learn more about Dane, connect with him on LinkedIn.
To get in touch with the Members’ Wealth team today, I invite you to email info@memberswealthllc.com or call (267) 367-5453.
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