•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
On April 27, artificial intelligence company DeepSeek unveiled a preview of its new AI model V4 and launched a discount program offering up to 75% off the Pro edition until May 5, according to Reuters. The company also cut data processing fees in its API system to one-tenth of previous levels.
DeepSeek said the V4 model comes in two versions: Pro and Flash. The Pro version is positioned for higher performance, while Flash is lighter and cheaper. The company claims the models deliver substantial improvements in knowledge and reasoning, with a particular emphasis on “agentic” capabilities—meaning the system can autonomously perform complex tasks rather than only respond like a chatbot.
According to the Associated Press, V4 was developed in part with support from Huawei’s chips. The report said this helps reduce dependence on American chip makers such as Nvidia, a point viewed as significant amid intensifying technology competition between China and the United States.
DeepSeek said the V4 Pro Max achieves high performance in reasoning tests, surpassing many open-source models and nearing leading systems such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini. Some experts, however, said independent verification is needed to confirm the company’s claims.
DeepSeek previously drew global attention with its R1 model launched in early 2025, which was reported to have high performance but considerably lower costs than U.S. rivals. That outcome has contributed to confidence in China’s ability to compete in AI.
Experts said V4 may not represent as large a leap as R1, but it reinforces the rapid pace of China’s AI development. They also noted that the use of open-source models can help DeepSeek expand across many fields.
At the same time, DeepSeek faces controversy. Some U.S. firms, including OpenAI and Anthropic, accused DeepSeek of “distillation”—training a new model based on outputs from a stronger system. Chinese officials rejected the allegations, saying they are unfounded and amount to unequal pressure.
Experts said the release of V4 continues to intensify the global AI race, with China pursuing faster development to close the gap with the United States.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
