AI’s Mangalyaan Moment: When Chips Don’t Limit Innovation
In 2014, India’s ISRO stunned the world with Mangalyaan—its first interplanetary mission, completed on a budget of just $74 million. This was a fraction of the $582 million spent by NASA on Maven and $164 million by the European Space Agency on Mars Express. Mangalyaan wasn’t just a technological feat—it was proof that innovation isn’t limited by budget but fueled by ingenuity.
Fast forward to today, and we see history repeating itself—this time in AI.
DeepSeek vs. OpenAI: A Disruption in the Making?
China’s DeepSeek has entered the AI chatbot market with an investment of just $12 million—a stark contrast to OpenAI’s $100M+ development costs. Yet, its performance is already drawing comparisons. This isn’t just competition; it’s a leveling effect of technology at play.
Even industry leaders like Satya Nadella have pointed out how Jevons Paradox is shaping AI adoption. As AI becomes more efficient and accessible, usage doesn’t plateau—it skyrockets.
The Jevons Paradox & AI’s Ubiquity
Originally observed in the 19th century, Jevons Paradox states that increased efficiency leads to higher consumption rather than reduced demand. We’ve seen this play out before:
- The rise of cloud computing made storage cheaper, but data usage exploded.
- Faster internet speeds didn’t curb bandwidth use; they fueled streaming and real-time applications.
- Affordable smartphones didn’t slow device adoption; they made mobile-first economies a reality.
And now, we’re witnessing this in AI. As AI models become cheaper and more efficient, their ubiquity will redefine how businesses, consumers, and industries function.
Here is a helpful infographic that will help decipher Deepseek’s disruption:
Source: AI Mindset
What’s Next? AI’s India Moment?
As an Asian, I take pride in China’s DeepSeek disrupting the AI landscape. But as an Indian, I can’t help but wonder—can India be the next to lead? We’ve proven our mettle in space technology; can we replicate this in AI?
Check out 7 LinkedIn Newsletters on Emerging Technologies
The race is on, and if history is any guide, cost-effective AI innovation will shape the future—not just for enterprises but for entire economies.
