Subsidy doesn't matter once the weights are released. You're conflating subsidized training and research with subsidized inference. DeepSeek's (allegedly government-) subsidized inference is coming to an end soon per their docs, but that's fine because the weights are open. You can run this on-prem with very modest hardware. And you can fine-tune it to your business with your data.
Re:DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731
by budsniffer952 on Saturday August 08, 2026 @11:18AM
(#49222658)
Then why are the major American labs in "deep trouble"? They can also continue to be subsidized and release the weights if they want to, if that's what you think it takes for survival. Seems like a low bar.
The point is it takes money to keep developing models. Everyone is playing by the same rules. At this point, the US labs are trying to build businesses. I'm not really sure what the Chinese labs goals are. But I do know they aren't doing charity work.
They are in trouble because they offer something 5% better for 2000% the price.
>"To what extent are the Chinese labs being subsidized? Are they real businesses?"
And who gives a flying fuck. I am a "real" business and I count my money. It is not my life goal to prop some fat cats crying crocodile tears
First of all, no one knows the "true cost" of any of this, yet, but we know it's expensive. To what extent are the Chinese labs being subsidized? Are they real businesses?
Second, the Chinese labs aren't some "super geniuses", while the American labs are full of clowns. As of today, like the past 3 years, American labs are SOTA. That might change, but let's not act like the American labs don't know what they are doing.
The idea that people are going to use cheaper models for cheaper work isn't some novel revelation, it's completely obvious. People are doing it already, eschewing Fable.