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A review on MX’s latest play: Sense and Sensibility Illustration by David Yang On a dreary November 15th evening, the Middlesex theatre crew came together to host a temporary respite from student strife the weekend prior to restricted assessment week. The showing was great, as students flocked to the theatre right after check-in at the BAP. Tom Kane gave us his usual boisterous pre-show announcement, the lights dimmed, and the show was on.  The public reception, however, was unfortunately mixed for the play. Some students left halfway during the intermission and fled back towards their dorms after a supposedly “boring” first act. But those who stayed were rewarded with a promised kiss scene, which was welcomed with an energetic response from the first few rows in the audience. Furthermore, the visuals were frankly beautiful, with a variety of intricate costumes and lighting effects. So despite great performances all around and a stunning spinning set, what was the problem? Some students blamed the play selection. Junior Alvin Zhang, for example, boasts that he was able to predict each and every “plot twist” that occurred in the story, and while lauding her prose, scorns Austen’s creativity. In truth, for many of the upperclassmen, the plot of Sense and Sensibility  is quite similar to that of its predecessor and required sophomore English reading, Pride and Prejudice . In addition, the play did not quite live up to the expectations of a “modern retelling.” Besides the medieval, jaunty renditions of contemporary pop songs (which included many Taylor Swift songs, much to Sra. Aldana’s dismay), the story is largely unaltered from Austen’s original writing.  Perhaps one of the concerns is also the fact that the thespians had to move the set personally in lieu of a tech crew. While certainly creative, it slowed down the play, a minor issue which could have led to the exodus of students halfway into the show, when the students realized that the first part alone almost elapsed two hours with no conclusion remotely in sight.  For class president Kwame Addison, one of the male character leads, “It was a splendid production.” When further asked for a more insightful opinion, Kwame remarked that “if it was as fun to watch as it was to make for us actors, then surely it was a great show!” As for his advice for aspiring actors at Middlesex, he counsels for performers to be malleable and daring, as he challenged himself to mold into the awkward character of Edward Ferrars, as Kwame himself is a very charismatic individual. Furthermore, he asks us to take risks in life, on stage as well as finding our promise at Middlesex.  All in all, Tom Kane and crew managed to brighten our Friday and Saturday nights with their diligently crafted dramatic work. While the dramaturgy and execution may not have been perfect, the play was entertaining and whimsical. To innovate in art is to take risks, as Kwame advises, and Tom certainly produced a brilliant and unique piece of production. Ethan Yuan

Illustration by Lauren Chan On January 10th and 11th, the Middlesex studio play’s cast brought Jason Pizzarello’s play Bethel Park Falls  to life through their acting capabilities that kept the audience utterly captivated. The story follows the lives of sixteen Bethel Park locals and their respective struggles. Each story is connected one way or another, creating an intriguing mystery for the audience to solve while they try to connect the characters and the events that transpired. While the play was introduced by Tom Kane, the true director of this play was Sam Nudler. The cast came together once a week from September to January until tech week. Some of the performers were new to Middlesex theater, and the experience was fresh and exciting. Each scene demonstrated the work and effort that each actor put into their job. Whether it be the tension between the cheating mayor and his yoga-loving wife (Logan Hoffman ‘27 and Sarah Custodio-Guzmán ‘26) or the chemistry between the unmotivating motivational speaker and the risk-adverse actuary (Sofia Raytchev ‘28 and Chris She ‘27), every character did a fantastic job at making the audience feel like what was happening in front of them was real.  However, the play did not have the turn out that was hoped for. Although students were given notice that the play was happening, a fair amount of the community did not show up. It seemed that splitting up the grades, while a good idea in theory, resulted in the students having less interest in attending. The intimate size of the theater gives the audience a closer view of the action; however, this also limited the number of possible attendees. The lack of audience members might also reflect that the play itself was not one commonly known. Luckily for the people watching, the thespians made sure that their production would not be an easily forgotten one. Unfortunately for the people who did not attend the performance, they missed the chance to see what can be accomplished when a group of people work to create something magical. Sophomore Marie Diem, who played the part of Gaia, commented that being a part of the play’s cast throughout the process of putting together the show “makes you feel the deeper meaning of [the play].” During their time rehearsing, the cast members formed bonds of friendship and became a united team. This teamwork is what allowed the actors to function as a group and put on a great show. It’s safe to say that one had truly missed out by not attending the performance of Bethel Park Falls . The show was a nice opportunity for many of our peers to have time in the spotlight, even if not everyone in the community attended. Tenny Sprong & Maisie Wands

“We’ve played these games before” Illustration by Serena Park More than three years after the show’s debut, Netflix released the highly anticipated second season of Squid Game.  Season two follows the plot chronologically and follows the protagonist Seong Gi-hun’s story as the sole survivor of the previous deadly contest.  Overall, despite retaining many of the aspects of the first season, season two was surprisingly refreshing with new games, fresh and exciting characters, and a fantastic use of dramatic irony through the Frontman’s infiltration as a player. For many, it was the cast that made the show. Rapper T.O.P, or Choi Seung-hyun, played Player 230, who went by the moniker “Thanos.” Thanos’ broken yet lyrical English served as a necessary comedic relief to the intensity of the show and faced the language barrier issues of season one head-on in a hilarious fashion. Similarly, other characters, such as Player 120, Player 333, and Player 007, maintained the nuance in personalities already established in season one. Each and every character has at least an understandable, albeit often questionable, motive for risking their lives for the 45.6 billion Won.  Viewers, of course, took to social media to react and share their opinions on the show fueled by the timely release of popular YouTuber Mr. Beast’s Beast Games , a reality TV show inspired by Squid Game , and the second season was perhaps equally viral online as the first. TikTok memes and edits on memorable lines, many from the aforementioned Thanos, both satirized and promoted the show. In addition, the second season also led to the resurgence of minigames inspired by Squid Game  on the sandbox platform Roblox, and the multitude of clips and highlights from said Roblox games also spread rampant on social media.  However, the show was nonetheless criticized. While the season remained just as intense and riveting as the first, the cliffhanger ending was quite disappointing for many viewers. Thus, perhaps the most frequent complaint was the abundance of unresolved plot threads, including an entire storyline that seemingly amounted to nothing. However, due to the fact that seasons two and three were filmed back to back, the third season of Squid Game  is expected to release in 2025, and will hopefully conclude the numerous newly introduced yet unexplored threads. Of course, the second season also lacks the ominous mystique of the first season. Each and every game no longer felt as pressing, as intimidating, even though the consequences are just as dire. While the show continued its ruthless streak by killing off heroic and loved characters, deaths no longer served as the stabs in the heart they were originally.  It’s hard for a sequel to live up to the original work, and while the second season of Squid Game also didn’t accomplish this feat, it certainly didn’t disappoint. Furthering the plot with some additional twists and turns, it’s definitely worth a watch, if not at the very least for the purpose of keeping up with the memes across all short-form content platforms.  Ethan Yuan

With the winter season now well on its way and campus accumulating yet another layer of ice, this time of year can often feel never ending. Spring cannot seem further from the present, and fall feels like a distant past. However, with only three weeks left until March Break and the end of winter sports, it is important to savor moments of joy and fun great and small throughout these coming weeks. Whether sledding, skating, or exploring the woods, take advantage of the cold to have some snowy fun and get outside. Push yourself to try to get involved in new clubs and activities on campus to cast away winter blues, like weekend activities, club meetings, or writing for the Anvil! Jack Elworth & Catherine Bain

On November 13th, 2024, the future of Women’s Lacrosse improved with the advent of the Women’s Lacrosse League.  The brand new Women’s Lacrosse League, otherwise known as the WWL, will debut in February 2025 in Washington DC at the Lexus Championship Series. Four teams will be competing for the inaugural WLL Championship Series trophy: the California Palms, the New York Charging, the Maryland Charm, and the Boston Guard. Each team will have a captain–many of whom are some of the best women to have ever played the sport– who will lead the team through their training and games. Ally Mastroianni, the two-time unanimous first-team All-American, 2022 IWLCA National Midfielder of the Year, and ACC Midfielder of the Year for two consecutive years, will lead the California Palms. The New York Charging will be led by Izzy Scane who won the 2023 NCAA championship  with Northwestern and twice received the Tewaaraton Award  as the best player in the country; Scane has also broken the all-time NCAA Division I  goal record in 2024 with 376 goals and 438 points. Alex Aust Holman, a two-time All American, second in all-time in career assists with 132 and ninth all-time in career points with 275, as well as a Tewaaraton Finalist, will return to the state of her alma mater, the University of Maryland, to lead the Maryland Charm. Finally, the Boston Guard will be led by the two-time winner of the Tewaaraton Award, a consensus First-Team All-America pick during her final two seasons, the IWLCA Player of the Year and Attacker of the Year in 2021 and 2022, and a nominee for the 2022 ESPYs Best Collegiate Athlete in Women's Sports and for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, Charlotte North.  There have been several other professional opportunities for the best of women’s lacrosse players to exhibit their abilities together on a team as well as individually. In 2021, the Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse League was added to the list of available options for a post-collegiate lacrosse player. Unfortunately, Athletes Unlimited, also known as AU, was a much smaller scale version of play.  In NCAA lacrosse, all D1, D2, and D3 teams play 12 v. 12 on fields that range from 110-140 yards in length and 60-70 yards in width. In AU lacrosse, the weekly drafted teams play 10 v. 10 on A 90 x 60 yard field. The Athletes Unlimited League provided only 56 athletes with the chance to play post collegiately. When a brand and a franchise as big as the PLL decided to create a female equivalent with the WLL, Athletes Unlimited made the decision to shut down their women’s lacrosse program indefinitely and focus on their other sports: volleyball, softball, and basketball.  Even with the loss of other smaller professional leagues, the incredible leadership that each WLL team boasts will undoubtedly serve as inspiration for younger generations to pick up a stick and add themselves to the legacy of women’s lacrosse. The inaugural WLL game will be a battle between the Maryland Charm and the New York Charging at 7pm on Tuesday, February 11th in Springfield, VA.  Thea Salem

El Clásico is a competition best known for its intensity, hostility, and tension. It is a battle between long time rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid and often provides a stage for some of the world’s stars to shine. Generations of El Clásicos have seen the likes of FC Barcelona players like Ronaldhino, Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry, Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi, along with the likes of Real Madrid players like Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Kaka, Ramos, and Cristano Ronaldo. It is a spectacle that never fails to impress and has given both clubs intense glory and failure. The El Clásico is played a minimum of two times a year during La Liga match play, which is the Spanish soccer league. This year, Barcelona has commanded outstanding victories of 4-0 and 5-2, historically large margins of victory for the club. It has left fans wondering if El Clásico is no longer the competitive match that it once was, but rather a training ground for FC Barcelona. The rivalry began after the founding of the Spanish league, La Liga, in 1929, where clubs boasted some of the best players in the era like Kubala and Luis Suárez for Barca and Ferenc Puskas and Di Stefano for Real Madrid. Historically speaking, the competition has been relatively equal with Barcelona winning 101 times and Real Madrid winning 105 times, with a total of 52 draws. Barcelona has seen 63 home wins whereas Real Madrid has witnessed a total of 66 home wins. It may seem from the numbers that Real Madrid has the edge in total competitions but that does not take away from some of Barcelona’s incredible performances. In fact, Barcelona has scored five goals against Real Madrid so many times that they coined a term called “La Manita,” which means five goals. In 1974, Johan Cruyff helped Barca to a 5-0 victory against their eternal rivals, and again when Cruyff was a coach in 1994 did Barcelona beat Real Madrid 5-0. The most well known victory, however, occurred in 2011 with a 5-0 victory over Real Madrid against a team with Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, and Pepe.  This year is on pace to be a special one, however. Forget the classics because what we are witnessing now is the makings of history. During league play in October, Barcelona won 4-0 with goals from its attacking front three of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal. Real Madrid had little going offensively even with the likes of Mbappe and Vini Jr, as Barcelona’s implementation of a high defensive line to catch players offside worked to perfection. But what struck viewers most was Real Madrid’s atrocious defensive performance. It seemed they were one step behind Barcelona the entire game. So when Barcelona again beat Real Madrid 5-2 in the following months, no one was all that surprised. In fact, Madrid fans were even more horrified because the game, realistically, should have been Barcelona 10-1 if their starting keeper had not gotten a red card. Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s head coach, went under fire for his decision to start Tchuoameni, a defensive midfielder, in the back line, a decision that clearly did not pay off.  Of course it may be an overreaction to say Real Madrid needs a rehaul, but their inability to stop Lewndowski, Raphinha, and the 17-year old Lamine Yamal is serious cause for concern. To let a rival team score 9 goals in the span of two games is simply frightening. Should Ancelotti be sacked? Should Madrid pick up a few defenders in the transfer window? It is up for them to decide, but action is needed quickly if they hope to have any bragging rights over their rivals in the future. Will Frank

Illustration by Anika Ata This year's college football playoff season was one for the ages. Starting this year, the NCAA decided to make the playoffs a twelve team bracket. The 2024-2025 season, having just wrapped up, has started chatter about whether or not people liked the twelve team playoff. Despite overwhelming controversy, I loved it. This extended format gave us avid football fans an extra few weeks of high quality football games. That being said, many people did not enjoy the new structure due to the belief that it should just be the four best teams that compete in the end, which is a fair argument when you see the seventh and eighth seeds battling it out in the championship. Although the championship was a great game ending in a score of 34-23 with Ohio State winning it all, many people criticized the NCAA as they believe the championship should be the two best teams, not two teams that upset a high seed and then cruise into the championship. Last year, all the playoff teams had a record higher than 12-2; however, this year a team that was 10-4 made the playoffs. Football fans are left questioning if it is better to only have two high quality games containing the four best teams in college football, or twelve brackets containing other solid teams which could leave room for blowout games. If I were able to make decisions about the playoffs with the NCAA, I would make the playoffs into an eight team bracket playoff instead of a twelve team bracket. Another option could be to make it so that the top eight schools–based solely on record and strength of wins–would make this playoff; if this was in place this year, we would have seen Ohio State, Boise State, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, and Georgia. Additionally, I would make it so that the matchups are made at random and not correlated to your seed, which would spice things up and hopefully make the games more competitive. Finally, I would make it so that Bowl Games count for your team's record the next year so that we would see even more teams have even more competitive games. College Football over the past few years has been evolving and it will be interesting to see what other changes will take place in the foreseeable future. Oliver Gates

All surveyed anonymously claimed to have never used the technology for English. Illustration by David Yang Generative Artificial Intelligence has taken off in the past two years. Since January 2023, ChatGPT has been one of the fastest-growing applications in history, with over 100 million monthly active users. AI demonstrates the astonishing potential for technology to play an even more involved role in human lives. It’s especially a cause for controversy here: teachers tend to argue that AI degrades integrity and impedes learning, while 47% of students report having used the technology for school. The Anvil  interviewed 47 students in order to gather multiple perspectives on the fast-paced and current daily integration of AI in our lives; they were asked multiple questions regarding the use of AI, and their responses were kept anonymous. The students spanned from 9th to 12th grade, with 22 male students (47%) and 25 female students (53%). Out of the 47, there were 19 Freshmen, 11 Sophomores, 13 Juniors, and 4 Seniors. When asked, Have you used AI?  83% responded yes, and 17% responded no. From the “no” responses, it was fairly equal when looking across grade levels. Out of the 47 students, the majority (53%) reported not using AI on homework, projects, and brainstorming . This majority does take into account the students who haven’t used AI before.  Of the 39 students who have used AI before, 56% of them use it on school topics.  The students who use AI for topics other than school use it for cooking recipes, random advice, inspiration, writing prompts, songwriting tips, fun facts, and in general to have fun with technology. When AI is used for topics relating to school, students mainly use it for STEM questions, such as math, physics, and biology. Students reported that AI helps them understand STEM concepts. For example, students report that AI is useful when it breaks down science readings into simple explanations that are more easily digestible. Additionally, it can be useful when it highlights certain math terms and interpretations of mathematical problems. Other students use it as a resource when studying for tests, such as creating practice tests, problems, and quizzes. Students have deliberately said that they would never use AI for anything related to English, showcasing Middlesex’s strong values of no cheating of any form in the English department. Many students as well have said that they have replaced Google with ChatGPT, as it explains and elaborates in a more human way. Student responses to the future of AI and its implications for society were mixed. Although many students believe it can assist us with health, education, and diagnosing diseases, others believe that AI will completely take over and ruin human creativity, or even worse, the human race. Students express the need for more regulation over AI, especially with misuse and possible ethical concerns. Other students worry that AI will replace certain low-cost jobs and will further lead companies to shift to a profit focus instead of regarding human values. Uncertainty and unpredictability are the leading aspects of all the responses. The responses showcase that when addressing AI, there is a large uneasiness with no solid answers. Mia Koopersmith

Analyzing the underlying motivation for Trump’s support of digital “coins” From the dawn of Trump’s presidential campaign, numerous mandates and speeches have reignited a flame in cryptocurrency investors. With the overwhelming support of Elon Musk, well-known for championing cryptocurrency, major “coins” hit all-time highs. For instance, the price of a single Bitcoin soared to 105,000 dollars, a more than 98% increase compared to last year during the Biden-Harris administration.  While the topic of the rise in prices remains a focal point, the majority of the population is unfamiliar with the underlying causes of Trump’s support for cryptocurrency. Ultimately, this article aims to analyze the impact of Trump’s advocacy for cryptocurrency and argues that such an attitude is radical, yet necessary for innovation. Before listing Trump’s executive orders, the term “cryptocurrency” originated from the late Latin word crypticus , defined as "hidden, occult, mystical.” To elaborate, it is a form of digital asset that serves as an alternative entity to the government-centralized banking system. Most importantly, the digital assets are hidden on a computer network using encryption algorithms, thus not bound by central authorities during transactions. Described as a “Bitcoin President,” Trump has been lobbied by multiple crypto executives from digital asset industries, including Rippe, Coinbase, Kraken, and even Robinhood. Clearly, Trump returned the favor by defanging the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) and proposing issuing multiple executive orders to promote access and use of public blockchain (crypto) technology and uncensored transactions.  However Trump’s pursuit of cryptocurrency not only benefits special interests but also helps the American economy. By expanding the use of U.S dollar-backed “stablecoins,” a type of cryptocurrency where the value of the digital asset depends on dollars, this change indeed arms the United States to compete against China's central bank digital currency (CBDC).  As Trump declares, “the digital asset industry plays a crucial role in innovation and economic development in the United States, as well as our nation’s international leadership.” Trump’s support strengthens America’s position in international economic competition, especially since other nations’ crypto holdings are increasing exponentially.  Trump demonstrated his radical approach to the crypto market on January 17, 2025, when he launched a “memecoin” called “$Trump.” The term “Memecoin” refers to a digital currency created with little to no value and authenticity. Thus, the launch of the Inaugural “Memecoin” on his social media account on X is an exorbitant and aggressive foray into crypto that resembles a fraudulent scheme.  Through this announcement, sales of the cryptocurrency immediately spiked, reaching 14.5 billion dollars in market cap, adding billions of dollars to Mr. Trump’s net worth. Even more absurdly, Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, minted her own “memecoin,” too. This series of launches represents his inappropriate and unsuitable outlook as a president of a nation, as such official decisions seemed to be driven by a desire for personal profit and interests.  President Trump’s support for cryptocurrency casts controversy on his character and qualities as a president. While his governmental investment in cryptocurrency may be beneficial to the American economy, his exploitation of supporters, especially during the Meme-Coin Launch, should certainly be criticized.  Matthew Yoon ‘27

The real reason why all students are praying for a free day The excitement is always palpable whenever rumors begin circulating throughout Middlesex about an upcoming free day. Students, unable to receive a confirmation until the night before, resort to desperately hoping and praying that Mrs. Speers will come to our rescue and persuade teachers to postpone tests to another day. I can still vividly remember the first free day of this school year. No one in my dorm was doing their work because we all heard that a free day was coming. Everyone was refreshing their inboxes every few minutes, waiting for an email to arrive. As soon as we saw the email from Gaby, people burst into screams, racing back and forth through the hallways, eager to spread the much anticipated news before we even clicked on the video of Mrs. Speers, Kwame, and Gaby.  This time, however, the exact timing of this free day was much harder to predict because of the unpredictable weather, upcoming Super Bowl, and better-guarded secrets. With a snow day on Thursday, any chance of a free day on Friday was squashed. Rumors are still circulating that there might be a free day the Monday after the Super Bowl, while others are stating that it will only happen if the Eagles win. All of this excitement sparked by a possibility of a day makes me wonder how big of an impact a free day makes on the MX community. The most obvious reasons are clear: everyone gets more time to sleep, students and teachers have a whole extra day to study for/grade tests, and everyone can take the day off to relieve stress and relax. However, the significance of a free day goes beyond simple relaxation. At school, the constant pressure to get excellent grades often leads students to prioritize their education and academic results over their own well-being.   From anxiety and stress to poor mental health, the relentless cycle of trying not to drown under academic pressure harms every student, straining their relationships and causing emotional instability. A free day gives students 24 hours to prioritize themselves, finally putting self-care at the top of the to-do list. A free day boosts the morale of the entire MX community, allowing a small break for everyone to collect themselves before returning to a positive learning environment. During the long, gloomy weeks of winter, almost all students feel strangled by a monotonous routine, one that involves no time for relaxation, filled only with schoolwork and athletic commitments. A free day breaks us free from such a dismal routine, allowing the joy and positivity that characterize the MX community to shine again. Michelle Cai

In an interview, the Harvard historian recounts moments of inspiration and offers advice. Middlesex recently welcomed historian and author Dr. Tiya Miles ‘88, the Michael Garvey Professor of History at Harvard and Radcliffe Alumnae Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, to campus. She spoke as part of Middlesex’s programming around the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and in a separate interview with the Anvil , she recounted her time as a student here. For Miles, “Middlesex created a world where dreams were born,” she said, fulfilling her desire for learning. Here, Miles discovered one of her favorite novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God  by Zora Neale Hurston . In addition to her academic pursuits, she helped organize events like Casino Night and served as co-editor of the  Anvil . Miles came to Middlesex as a sophomore from a public school in Ohio. The transition was difficult at first. In a vivid memory from her first year, Miles’s Latin teacher began class by declaring himself a frog. She recalls being shocked receiving her first English paper and realizing that she would have to work assiduously for her A’s. Miles learned through this experience that “achievement tastes sweeter.” Because Middlesex requires underclassmen to participate in one sport per season, Miles decided to try crew in the spring of her first year. Although she was nervous at first, rowing became a transformative experience.  According to Miles, her team’s boat once capsized, but the collective team response to the setback left a mark in her memory. Through rowing, Miles learned that unity defines a true team, regardless of differences in individual skill level.  Miles was not fixated on history at Middlesex, but rather appreciated literature and the study of older cultures. She recollects at times worrying that her many passions would not work out in her future. Looking back, she wishes she could tell her younger self to “have patience” and remember that “life unfolds in phases.”  As an educator, Miles relates the past to the present to encourage students to envision a better future, particularly regarding the environmental and climate crisis.  Indeed, her latest book, Night Flier: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People , is an example of environmental history. In response to students' anxiety about the future, Miles exhorted, “You are not helpless. Refuse to be hopeless. Engage!”. Reflecting on Professor Miles’s talk, P.K. Awuah ‘28 said, “Awareness is an essential factor for taking action.” According to Awuah, people, even those not in “position[s] of power,” must spread awareness of the environmental issues Miles writes about. Miles encourages students to continue to question, learn, and be inspired when lost. According to Miles, humanity will progress once we can collaborate and trust each other. Mia Koopersmith

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek surprises Silicon Valley and the world by introducing a highly energy-saving model at cheap costs of production.  DeepSeek challenged experts’ traditional views on AI as a field reliant on the most powerful chips, deemed essential by experts. The sudden rise of the Chinese DeepSeek AI questioned the dominance of the U.S. in manufacturing the world’s finest chips. DeepSeek attempts to question one’s understanding of AI: what if its complex nature could be reduced to the simplest components and a minimum level of resources?  Similar to ChatGTP, DeepSeek is a generative and free AI-powered chatbot that simulates human reasoning. Not only does DeepSeek have accurate sources of information, it is also extremely successful at reducing the cost of production, placing it as a tough competitor against American AI. Instead of investing money on developing chips, DeepSeek trains AI with techniques that are highly energy-saving and efficient. For example, when given a problem, the chatbot utilizes a specialized sub-model to search for the answer rather than using the entire model. DeepSeek developers claim that “it cost $6 million to train, a fraction of the over $100 million alluded to by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.” According to BBC, DeepSeek’s founder reportedly stockpiled Nvidia A100 chips, which have been banned from export to China since September 2022. By creatively pairing these chips to less sophisticated ones, Liang, the founder of DeepSeek, built a model even more powerful than ChatGPT. Using 2048 H800 chips and investing only $500 million in hardware, DeepSeek challenged the position of OpenAI, which has the world’s most esteemed database.   Indeed, this situation implies that banning exports failed to limit China's attempts to build AI models . DeepSeek has hit the top of Apple store downloads, significantly sinking U.S. tech stocks. The U.S. immediately sensed the threat. President Trump called DeepSeek’s release as a “wake-up call” for U.S. companies. DeepSeek’s capability to influence the U.S. stock market is stunning. It created the biggest one-day loss as chip-making giant Nvidia shed almost $600 billion of its market value on Monday. In an interview with the company’s founder last year, Liang stated that China’s AI sector “cannot remain a follower forever,” suggesting that rather than hard skills, the true difference between Chinese and American production lies in “originality and imitation.” The prospect of DeepSeek’s staggering success surprised Silicon Valley, as it has always viewed Chinese tech companies as followers rather than innovators.  DeekSeek makes clear that the real challenge for the AI industry isn’t simply expanding the budget, but finding ways to achieve higher efficiency with limited resources. While the rise of DeepSeek is a serious threat to U.S. tech companies, it could also be an opportunity to test their creative problem-solving skills to counteract competition. For instance, it could ‘democratize’ the field of AI by making the industry more accessible to small firms. The consequent ‘democratization’ would only accelerate the control and dominance of AI, such that perhaps one day it would achieve equality with the human mind. DeepSeek adds more uncertainty to the future of AI and the optimal way of attaining computing power from computing chips. In the words of BBC, DeepSeek’s achievements undercut the belief that bigger budgets and top-tier chips are the only ways of advancing A.I. A multifaceted problem-solving approach would be a valuable resource to many companies, not just those working on AI.  Lucy Wang