The hottest Competition Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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DeepSeek Is a Wake-Up Call. Is America Listening?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1219 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Startups Innovation Market Trends Competition
  1. DeepSeek, a small Chinese company, has created powerful AI models for much less money than American companies, challenging the idea that the U.S. leads in technology. This means other countries can compete more easily in AI.
  2. The surprising success of DeepSeek caused significant drops in the stock prices of major tech companies, showing how big of an impact one smaller player can have on the market.
  3. DeepSeek's technology is accessible for anyone with limited resources, which could change the future of AI development and create potential instability in the tech landscape.

✨ DeepSeek, China's new AI challenge

Faster, Please! • 1827 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Startups Competition Global Affairs
  1. DeepSeek is a new Chinese AI startup that has created an AI system competing with giants like OpenAI and Google using fewer resources. They used only 2,000 Nvidia chips and spent about $6 million on computing.
  2. The efficiency of DeepSeek's technology raises questions about the American innovation system and its current position in the global AI race. There's a concern that American companies need to adapt and speed up their advancements.
  3. If China leads in AI development, it could shift global power dynamics, similar to the reaction during the Space Race. This underscores the importance of not underestimating the growing competition in AI.

Witnessing Creative Destruction

Points And Figures • 1039 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Competition Market Trends Cybersecurity
  1. China released a new AI engine that outperforms existing models in the U.S., marking a significant step in AI innovation. This change shows how quickly tech landscapes can shift and the importance of staying competitive.
  2. To succeed in the current tech environment, startup founders should focus on wisely managing their funding and raising just enough money to reach their goals. It's important to avoid letting pride interfere with practical decision-making.
  3. The key to advancing AI and technology is competition, not regulation. Embracing competition can help improve products and services, keeping innovation alive and thriving.

Celebrating wins

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 21 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🎾 Sports Athletics Competition Public Speaking Personal Growth
  1. Celebrating your wins helps boost your energy and motivation. It's important to take a moment to enjoy your achievements instead of just focusing on what to improve.
  2. Public speaking can be challenging, but overcoming that fear can lead to great personal growth and satisfaction. It feels rewarding to push through and succeed in something you once dreaded.
  3. Having a positive mindset about your journey can inspire you to keep improving. Working with a coach can help elevate your skills and spread a good message about mental health and performance.

Money, Drama, and China: Why AI’s Next Step Could Be Messy

Big Technology • 6880 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Open Source Startups Investment Competition
  1. A new AI model called DeepSeek is cheaper and efficient, potentially making big investments in AI technology seem unnecessary. This raises questions about how much companies should really spend on AI.
  2. DeepSeek's success is surprising since it was developed in China, challenging the notion that good tech only comes from big investments in the West. Its ability to compete shows that smaller companies can innovate effectively.
  3. This development might shift the AI landscape significantly. Big players like OpenAI may need to rethink their approaches to stay competitive, especially now that cheaper models are proving their worth.
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Banishing The Inner Critic

The Ruffian • 245 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🎾 Sports Athletes Psychology Competition Performance Tennis
  1. Madison Keys won the Australian Open by playing more instinctively and accepting her mistakes. She realized that losing while being true to herself was better than winning by playing tightly and feeling stressed.
  2. She worked on her mental health through therapy, which helped her feel happier and less burdened by the pressure to win. She learned that success in tennis doesn't define her worth as a person.
  3. Keys found success by caring less about the outcome of her matches. By reducing her focus on winning, she could play more freely and confidently.

Did Elon Musk just Mu$k Sam Altman?

Marcus on AI • 5138 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Business Investments Competition Corporate Governance
  1. Sam Altman is struggling to keep OpenAI's nonprofit structure, and it's causing financial issues for the company. Investors are not happy with how things are going.
  2. Elon Musk's recent $97 billion bid for OpenAI's nonprofit has complicated the situation. Altman rejected the bid, which makes it tougher for him to negotiate a better deal.
  3. Musk's bid has raised the 'cost' for OpenAI's nonprofit to separate from the for-profit section, adding pressure on Altman and his financial plans.

Try The 2025 ACX/Metaculus Forecasting Contest

Astral Codex Ten • 3854 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🔬 Science Forecasting Predictions Technology Research Competition
  1. The 2025 ACX/Metaculus Forecasting Contest is now open for predictions. It's a great opportunity for anyone interested to share their forecasts on various topics.
  2. This year, there are new forecasting bots participating, and it'll be exciting to see how they compare to top human forecasters. The contest wants to explore how well these bots can predict outcomes.
  3. The questions this year are designed to be interesting and relevant, so many people can take part. The contest aims to engage everyone's thoughts on important issues.

Fear and Consolidation in the Oil Patch

BIG by Matt Stoller • 20856 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Oil industry Mergers Finance Economy Competition
  1. The oil and gas industry is going through a significant wave of consolidation, with mega-mergers happening between major companies.
  2. The mergers and acquisitions in the industry are driven by challenges in increasing production, high finance strategies, and the desire to showcase access to reserves to investors.
  3. The consolidation will likely lead to squeezed suppliers, reduced innovation, and a shift of industry power from domestic firms to global entities.

A Cycle of Misery: The Business of Building Commercial Aircraft

Construction Physics • 27768 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💼 Business Aviation Manufacturing Industry Competition Economics
  1. Developing a new commercial aircraft is incredibly expensive, with development costs exceeding billions and posing significant financial risks to companies.
  2. Aircraft manufacturers face challenges in predicting market demand and trends, with incorrect guesses leading to financial losses and potentially fatal setbacks.
  3. Given the high costs and risks involved in developing new aircraft, manufacturers often opt to revise existing models to mitigate costs, keep pilot training minimal, and maximize efficiency.

DeepSeek, o3, and AI applications

Generating Conversation • 116 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Applications Models Innovation Competition
  1. DeepSeek R1 is a strong AI model that has impressed the industry, but life goes on, and the world hasn't changed drastically because of it. More good models out there mean better choices for those building AI applications.
  2. Competition is heating up in the AI space. Other companies, like OpenAI, are responding by releasing new models quickly to keep up with emerging players like DeepSeek.
  3. The trend of making AI models more affordable is continuing. This can help more people and businesses use AI, solving new problems that weren’t possible before.

How You Can Eliminate Your Competition

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 159 implied HN points • 02 Sep 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Startups Competition Branding
  1. You don't have to be the first in the market. Being different is more important. Focus on filling gaps in what others offer instead.
  2. Understand what your customers truly want. They often seek value and connection, not just the service itself. Learn their needs to attract more clients.
  3. Instead of only cutting costs, focus on providing great value to your customers. Sometimes spending more can actually improve your service and satisfy customers better.

Stop blaming rising egg prices on market power

Economic Forces • 11 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
💼 Business Market Theory Supply Chain Competition
  1. Rising egg prices don't always mean companies are taking advantage of their market power. Sometimes, they can be explained by supply issues, like avian flu affecting chicken populations.
  2. When there are fewer eggs available due to supply disruptions, prices can rise a lot even if demand doesn’t change much. This is because people still need eggs for cooking and baking.
  3. Just because prices are high doesn't mean there’s unfair competition. It’s important to look at the whole supply chain and how supply changes can affect prices in a competitive market.

DeepSeek and the Future of AI Competition with Miles Brundage

ChinaTalk • 948 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Modeling Competition Trade policy Innovation
  1. DeepSeek's R1 model shows that AI competition is heating up between the U.S. and China. It's similar to OpenAI's model but developed quickly, closing the gap.
  2. The efficiency at which DeepSeek operates is driven by export controls, meaning limited access to advanced chips. More chips would better their AI capabilities.
  3. Open-sourcing AI models has its benefits, but governments need to be careful. They should ensure the technology is not misused while still allowing some level of open collaboration.

Irish Dance: Inconveniently, Boys Are Stronger Than Girls

Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) • 2220 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Gender Competition Athletics Inclusion Strength
  1. In Irish Dance competitions, boys have demonstrated superior strength compared to girls.
  2. The governing body allowed a boy to compete in the Girls U14 category based on gender identity.
  3. There is a call for an 'open' category in Irish Dance competitions to ensure fairness for all competitors.

Anthropic's Dario Amodei on AI Competition

ChinaTalk • 681 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Competition Innovation Export Controls International relations
  1. The competition in AI between the US and China is becoming more intense, with new players like DeepSeek entering the market. Each country needs to stay ahead to maintain power and safety.
  2. Export controls are important for managing technology sharing and preventing potential misuse of AI by authoritarian regimes. This helps keep a balance while still allowing beneficial uses of AI.
  3. AI has the potential to support democracy and create fairer systems, but it's important to ensure safety and responsible use. The focus should be on how technology is used rather than just who creates it.

Astera Labs IPO - The Next Connectivity Superhero or Steamrolled By Competition?

SemiAnalysis • 5354 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Technology Finance Competition Market Analysis Forecasting
  1. Astera Labs is a key player in the AI infrastructure market, supplying connectivity chips to hyperscalers, AI accelerator vendors, and system OEMs.
  2. Connectivity in the datacenter market is highly competitive, but Astera Labs has the opportunity to become a connectivity 'Superhero' by maintaining market share and expanding product lines.
  3. Astera Labs focuses on solving connectivity bottlenecks in high-speed interfaces by offering retimers to improve signal integrity, particularly targeting PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 specs.

Gamesmanship, Sportsmanship, and the Case of the Giant Boulder

The Leap • 559 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Competition Gaming Culture Strategy
  1. Gamesmanship involves using clever tactics to gain an advantage in a game, sometimes bending the rules. It's important to know when it's okay to be strategic and when it might cross the line.
  2. Sportsmanship is about respect and fairness in competition, focusing on integrity and camaraderie. Good sportsmanship means playing by the rules and being gracious, win or lose.
  3. Understanding the balance between gamesmanship and sportsmanship can enhance how we engage in competitive activities. Finding the right mix helps maintain the spirit of the game and keeps it enjoyable for everyone.

The dream of deregulation - the grid part III

Construction Physics • 9812 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
💼 Business Energy Regulation Competition Market Policy
  1. Electric power in the US was historically monopolized by utility companies, but cracks in the system started to appear in the 1960s and 1970s.
  2. The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 revolutionized the energy industry by creating a new class of independent power producers called Qualifying Facilities, leading to an increase in non-utility electricity generation.
  3. Deregulation of the electric power industry began in the 1990s and 2000s, with the unbundling of generation and transmission services, creation of new power suppliers like Exempt Wholesale Generators, and the establishment of Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations to introduce competition.

Let’s Use Prediction Markets for Olympic Athlete Selection!

Something to Consider • 139 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
🎾 Sports Athletics Olympics Competition Betting Selection
  1. Using prediction markets could help select the best Olympic athletes. It lets people bet on who they think will win medals, creating a more informed decision.
  2. A single race can be too random to decide who goes to the Olympics. Markets can help show which athletes have the best chances over time.
  3. This approach could work alongside the current Olympic trials, giving athletes an extra chance to prove themselves. It encourages transparency and competition among the athletes.

Premier League Money: The Economics of Winning, Relegation and Promotion

Original Football • 459 implied HN points • 14 May 24
🎾 Sports Soccer Economics Competition Finance
  1. Winning the Premier League not only brings glory but also substantial financial rewards through broadcasting revenue and merit payments.
  2. Relegation from the Premier League can have severe financial consequences for clubs, leading to reduced revenue and parachute payments to soften the impact.
  3. Clubs in the Championship strive for promotion to the Premier League due to the financial windfall it brings, especially through the lucrative Championship Playoff Final.

Invisible Duels

Working Theorys • 152 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Social Behavior Identity Competition Mental health Philosophy
  1. Invisible duels happen when we compare ourselves to others, even if we never agreed to compete. We end up feeling threatened by their success, which harms our self-worth.
  2. These duels are often fueled by social media, where we constantly see others' achievements and feel pressured to measure up. This can lead to anxiety and distraction from our own goals.
  3. To escape these invisible duels, we need to focus on ourselves and what we truly want. Making others less significant and finding our own direction is key to breaking free.

Welcome to the Blunderdome

Donkeyspace • 9 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🎾 Sports Athletics Competition Doping Philosophy
  1. Sports have rules that are not just obstacles but shape the essence of the game. These rules create a space for optimal performance and define what the sport is.
  2. Introducing steroids into sports complicates things because it blurs the lines of fair competition. Athletes might feel pressured to use them just to keep up with others.
  3. Winning in sports should be about passion and effort, not about using substances to gain an edge. The joy of playing and the challenge of competition should be what drives athletes.

Darts, I love you

The Rectangle • 28 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🎾 Sports Games Competition Culture Tradition Leisure
  1. Darts is more than just a game; it's a popular social activity in places like the UK. People often play darts in pubs and at home, making it an accessible sport for everyone.
  2. Playing darts can be a fun way to relax and clear your mind. It's a great alternative to screen time and helps keep you active.
  3. The history of darts shows how it became a beloved pastime. It evolved from a simple throwing game into a major sport enjoyed by millions.

The 22-Year-Old Who Unlocked the Secrets of Ancient Rome

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1252 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Competition Innovation
  1. The Vesuvius Challenge offered a $1 million prize for decoding ancient scrolls, sparking interest in AI deciphering
  2. Luke Farritor won a prize for using AI to read an Epicurean work of criticism on a scroll from the Villa dei Papyri
  3. Deciphering ancient scrolls has the potential to reshape our understanding of the ancient world and rewrite assumptions about history

Weekend Thoughts: Coinbase $COIN

Yet Another Value Blog • 1159 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency SEC Regulation Competition Investing
  1. Coinbase is facing serious challenges posed by an SEC suit that could potentially put the company out of business.
  2. The primary defense of Coinbase against the SEC is the hope that Congress will change laws to save them, but this could lead to increased competition and challenges for the company.
  3. Even if Congress were to change laws to make crypto trading legal, it could have negative consequences for Coinbase's business by opening the door to strong competition and impacting its unique revenue streams.

Status Games

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1628 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Social Dynamics Competition
  1. The post discusses status games, which are competitive arenas where individuals strive for social recognition.
  2. Status games encompass elements like cloak and dagger, dominance, and success in the pursuit of social esteem.
  3. The content is available for paid subscribers, emphasizing the value of exploring and understanding competitive social dynamics.

Should you ever talk smack about your competitors?

Startup Real Talk • 145 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
💼 Business Startups Marketing Strategy Competition Entrepreneurship
  1. It's usually not a good idea to criticize your competitors because it can make you appear weak. However, if you're a small player facing a giant competitor, it can be an exciting story to share.
  2. If you’re similar in size to your competitor, it's best to minimize mentions of them. Acknowledging them can give them more power, so keep your focus on your own strengths.
  3. If you’re the big player in the market, try to shift the conversation to something more positive about your brand. Being the giant can bring challenges, so it's wise to manage the narrative carefully.

We Compete With Bodies, Not Identities

ajkay • 1022 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
🎾 Sports Athletics Gender Competition Inclusion Rules
  1. Athletes compete with their bodies' physical limitations, which is a universal constraint in sports.
  2. Competitive sports rely on observable, measurable, and validated parameters for eligibility, like age, sex, and skill level.
  3. Maintaining eligibility requirements in sports is not about exclusion but about upholding the essential principles of physical competition.

"Why? Because the thread count was too low, you idiot."

Sucks to Suck • 1002 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Software Design Social Platforms Algorithm Competition
  1. The rise of new social media platforms like Threads could challenge existing giants like Twitter.
  2. The shift towards subscription revenue models might be essential for social media platforms like Twitter.
  3. Consumers are seeking stability and calm in online platforms, which could impact the future dynamics of social media.

Former Facebook Research Scientists Raise $20 Million Seed Round for Enterprise Foundation Model Startup

Newcomer • 982 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
💼 Business Technology Startups Venture Capital Competition Enterprise
  1. Former Facebook research scientists raise $20 million for a foundation model startup called Contextual AI
  2. Contextual AI's foundation model for enterprises aims to address existing model challenges like hallucination and data privacy
  3. Competition in the foundation model space is intense, with companies like Cohere and Vectara already in the game

Happy 1st Birthday, GPT-4

Marcus on AI • 1383 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Applications Progress Competition
  1. There seems to be a possible plateau in GPT-4's capability, with no one decisively beating it yet.
  2. Despite challenges, there has been progress in discovering applications and putting GPT-4 type models into practice.
  3. Companies are finding putting Large Language Models into real-world use challenging, with many initial expectations proving unrealistic.