Can DeepSeek Beat the Best American Models?

October 27, 2025

Can DeepSeek beat the best American models? When I tested DeepSeek in June, the outputs were garbage. This morning, I gave it a re-test…

Like in June, I asked DeepSeek three real questions I need the answer to.

Last time, it scored a B-. Let’s see if DeepSeek’s recent updates have made a difference.

Round 1: Drone Defense

Germany and Denmark have seen several mysterious drone incursions. These drones may have been sent by the Russians.

So I wondered, what is the state of the art in drone defense?

DeepSeek gave me a good overview of drone defense. It covered techniques from microwaves (tends to fry all electronics in the area) to machine guns (only useful on the battlefield).

I would’ve liked more detail on which startups are leading in drone defense. But overall, DeepSeek gave a good answer with lots of citations.

I’ll give this round an A-.

Round 2: Learning About Gardening

Enough of the war stuff. Can DeepSeek teach me about gardening?

I recently saw a news segment about the Miyawaki Method. Gardeners used it to turn a quarter acre in Summit, NJ into a tiny forest.

DeepSeek gave me an awesome overview of the Miyawaki Method. The method uses careful soil preparation and dense planting to help the forest grow faster.

DeepSeek’s answer was superb with lots of relevant citations. I’m giving this round an A+!

Round 3: Planning My Christmas Trip

I’m heading up to Wisconsin for Christmas again this year. I’m looking forward to seeing my mom and some old friends!

I asked DeepSeek to help me find the best time to book my trip. Can it save me some money?

DeepSeek’s answer was completely wrong. This is worse than no answer at all.

It tells me I can’t fly directly from Newark to Milwaukee. That’s totally untrue — there are many direct flights each day!

I’ve taken this trip enough times to know that DeepSeek is wrong. But for some, this mistake could lead them to book a much less convenient itinerary.

I’m giving this round an F.

Final Grade

DeepSeek has improved significantly in some ways since my June test.

In June, it didn’t cite any sources. That made it impossible to trust it.

Now, DeepSeek cites sources beautifully.

But for all its improvements, DeepSeek still says things that are blatantly wrong. When I use Grok or Gemini, I hardly ever get these hallucinations.

Overall, I’m giving DeepSeek a C+. That’s actually down from the B- in my last test.

Wrap-Up

As a consumer, there’s no reason to use DeepSeek. The best American models give better answers.

But for developers, DeepSeek can be a good choice.

It’s one of the cheapest models to run. If it gives you the output you need for your application, consider it.

Sometimes cheap beats perfect.

Do you use DeepSeek?

More on tech:

Testing DeepSeek’s New Model

GPT-5 vs. Grok 4: Which Model Is King?

Grok 4: The Best AI Model Ever?

Save Money on Stuff I Use:

Fundrise

This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.

Why I’m Voting for Jack Ciattarelli

October 24, 2025

Mikie Sherrill calls criminals “justice-involved individuals.” She wants to keep the “bail reform” that lets violent criminals loose.

That’s why I’m voting for Jack Ciattarelli.

An Attack on an Innocent Nanny

Last fall, serial offender Troy Timberlake attacked a nanny in Hoboken. He punched her in the face repeatedly, knocking her unconscious.

Timberlake also knocked a man to the ground, giving him a cranial hematoma.

Timberlake had been arrested 4 times in 14 months. He had chased two men with a knife the year prior and threatened to cut a woman a few months earlier.

Bail Reform Enables Crime

So why was he out on the street?

Bail reform, that’s why. Police arrested Timberlake repeatedly, but judges let him go!

From the police union:

“People ask why this person isn’t in jail, it’s not a policing issue, it’s a bail reform issue,” the union said in a post on “X,” formerly Twitter. “We do our job and people are released the next day. Start directing questions towards the people who can fix the bail reform laws that are currently in place.”

Ciattarelli Will Protect New Jersey

Ciattarelli will end bail reform. He’ll let judges do their jobs and lock up criminals.

He’ll also appoint tough prosecutors and judges. Finally, our police will have the support they need.

Sherrill Wants More “Services” For Criminals

Sherrill wants to keep the bail “reform” that’s flooding our streets with criminals.

She gushes about getting criminals “services” and safeguarding their “mental health.” Anything but putting them in jail.

Sherrill cares more about being woke than she does about our safety.

Wrap-Up

Stopping crime is simple.

Lock up the criminals. Crime falls.

Jack Ciattarelli will lock the criminals up. He’ll stop violent people like the degenerate who attacked that nanny.

That’s why I’m voting for him for governor.

Sherrill can’t even say the word “criminal.” How will she stand up to them?

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.

Request for Startups: Drones, Healthtech and Art, Oh My!

October 23, 2025

Whenever I see a problem, the solution is a startup. Here are 3 problems I’m itching to solve…

1. Simple Drones for World Domination. Chinese manufacturer DJI controls 80% of the consumer drone market. These drones can be modified for military use.

In a conflict with China, they’d swarm us with millions of them. We have no ability to produce drones at that scale.

What America needs is a simple drone that’s easy to make. I want to see as few parts as possible.

If we can produce simple, effective drones at huge scale, we can defend our home.

2. Knee Tech. Half the people I know have knee problems. The current treatments, like physical therapy or knee replacements, don’t work well for a lot of people.

What if we could make your knees as good as they were when you were a kid?

I’m not sure what that would look like. A gel to inject in the knee, a stem cell treatment, a material that mimics cartilage?

But I’m confident a brilliant founder will show me.

3. A Marketplace for Art. Last night, I was chatting with an artist who paints beautiful watercolors.

“Galleries take 50% of every piece an artist sells,” she said.

“That’s ridiculous!” I said. “Even Uber only gets around 30%.”

What we need is an online marketplace to sell art.

Etsy is popular but it’s geared toward crafts. There are a few fine art marketplaces out there, like Artsy or Artfinder. But they haven’t really caught on.

If it’s easier to make a living creating art, we’ll get more of it!

Wrap-Up

I want to keep our country safe.

I want my friends and family to be able to move easily, without pain.

And I want artists to earn a viable living so they can keep making beautiful things.

So if you’re building a new kind of drone, a therapy for knee pain, or a marketplace for art, get in touch!

More on tech:

Your Deck Probably Sucks. Here’s How to Fix It.

Meet My Latest Investment: Verustruct

Using Grok Socratic Mode to Learn About Health

Save Money on Stuff I Use:

Fundrise

This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.

The Gold Rally Is Pure Speculation

October 22, 2025

Note: This is not investment advice.

Gold is up 52% this year, even after a recent dip. This rally is based on speculation, not real concerns about US government finances.

Investors Still Love Treasuries

Some journalists claim that the US government’s finances have spooked investors. If that’s true, why aren’t investors demanding a higher return on our bonds?

Ten year Treasury yields are down significantly in 2025.

Dollar Holds Up Against Other Commodities

The dollar is also on firm ground compared to many major commodities.

Gold and silver are up, but many other commodities priced in dollars are down. Oil, natural gas and wheat prices in dollars have all fallen this year.

Bitcoin’s Muted 2025

Another indicator of the dollar’s soundness is Bitcoin.

Bitcoin’s supply is largely fixed. If the dollar were collapsing, we’d expect Bitcoin to go through the roof.

But Bitcoin’s gains this year have been much lower than gold’s.

Are Central Banks the Culprit?

What about Central Banks? Is their buying responsible for this year’s gold rally?

Central bank gold purchases have actually fallen in recent years. They don’t appear to be driving this year’s run-up.

Speculation: The Best Explanation

Investors aren’t worried about US government bonds. The dollar is holding up well against other commodities and Bitcoin.

So why is gold going through the roof?

For the same reason as meme stocks: pure speculation. People see a price going up and they rush to buy, hoping it will go up more.

Wrap-Up

I’m not chasing gold, silver, or whatever today’s hot asset is. I’m sticking to what I’ve done for years: meeting great founders, making investments, and building for the long term.

If I chase today’s hot thing, I might post gains for a while. But in the end, I’m going to get burned.

“In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.” – Benjamin Graham

Note: This is not investment advice.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.

How to Use Your Existing Investors to Get More Investors

October 21, 2025

Have you struck out with cold messages to VC’s? Here’s how to use your existing investors to get dozens of warm intros…

Start With Your Existing Investors

The easiest way to meet new investors is through your existing ones.

They believe in you. They want to see you raise more money so you can get to a big exit. And they know other investors.

Ask each of them:

“Can you introduce me to three more investors that think like you do?”

Phrasing the question this way flatters your investor a little. They see what others can’t.

To quote one of my favorite movies, Reversal of Fortune:

“Does that work?”
“Flattery? Absolutely.”

Four Investors for the Price of One

When a new investor commits, use the same tactic. Ask for three intros.

A single new investor can bring in many more.

Freshpaint, a YC startup, got a $5k check from an angel during their seed raise. That angel introduced them to other investors who put in a total of $700k!

Make Intros Easy

Make it easy for your investors to make the intro. Give them a forwardable blurb and include a PDF of your deck.

The blurb should be brief. Aim for 75 words or less.

Give us the Big 3: Vision, Team and Traction. Here’s an example:

“I’m Travis and I’m building UberCab. UberCab lets you order a black car with your smartphone.

We have 5 cars on the road and have done over 500 rides.

We plan to expand beyond black cars to take on the entire taxi market.

I sold my last startup, Red Swoosh, for $19 million. I’m raising a seed round for UberCab and would love to tell you about it.”

Wrap-Up

You’re far more likely to get a check if you have a warm intro. If you use your existing investors, you can get dozens of them.

You don’t need to rely on cold messages alone. Your investors are there, waiting to help you.

But you have to ask!

More on tech:

Small Investors Lead to Big Investors

The Big 3: Vision, Team and Traction

Why You Should Send an Investor Update

Save Money on Stuff I Use:

Fundrise

This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.

Why You Should Send an Investor Update

October 20, 2025

“Ugh, I still have to send that investor update.” Ever had this thought after a 90 hour week? Here’s why updating your investors helps you win…

How to Write an Update

First, you need to know how to write a good update.

Don’t write a novel. Just cover these points:

Asks for investors
Revenue
Burn
Cash in Bank
Runway
Highlights
Lowlights
Next month’s plan

Writing this update should take you 30-60 minutes. One hour, once a month.

Monthly Updates = Timely Help

You should send updates monthly. That gets you help in a timely fashion.

Say you need a new engineer. Put the “Asks” at the top and ask investors for intros.

If one of your investors introduces you to a strong prospect, your job just got a lot easier!

If you only update investors every quarter or two, you don’t get help when you need it. You need that engineer today, not 3-6 months from now!

Making Fundraising Easier

Let’s say you go silent for a year. Now, the company is struggling and you need those investors to write another check.

Good luck getting it! Many have already written you off.

Had you updated them every month, they might have enough confidence to re-invest.

Getting an Overview of Your Business

You’re immersed in details every day. You’re fixing a bug, answering an urgent question from a customer, and flying to a conference.

It’s easy to lose the big picture. How is your business doing overall?

Investor updates give you an overview. Even if you have no investors, write an update for yourself!

What Companies Get an Exception?

I have a couple startups that I rarely hear from. And that’s okay.

These companies have scaled to tens of millions in revenue. I have a ton of confidence in these founders. I’d rather they spend time growing the business than write a monthly update.

But it’s still nice to hear from them once in a while! And I get an update at least once a year, even without asking for it.

But if you’re early stage, stick to monthly updates.

Wrap-Up

Sending monthly updates gets you the intros and advice you need, when you need them. It also helps you raise money in the future.

But there’s another reason to send investor updates.

People trusted you with their money. You owe it to them to keep them updated.

Now, sit down and write that update!

More on tech:

How to Write Investor Updates

How to Tell If Investors Are Really Interested

How to Build a Relationship with Investors

Save Money on Stuff I Use:

Fundrise

This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.

Using Grok Socratic Mode to Learn About Health

October 17, 2025

Note: This is not medical advice. I have zero qualifications in medicine. I’m just learning and sharing with you what I found.

Half the people I know have knee pain. Can startups help? This morning, I used Grok Socratic Mode to find out.

Grok Socratic Mode is based on the Socratic Method. It asks questions to help you learn.

You can enable it on Grok.com by going to Settings > Customize > Socratic Mode. I set Grok to Expert, which uses the latest model.

Let’s get started!

What’s the State of the Art?

First, I asked Grok what the latest treatments are for knee pain. I also asked which startups are developing the best new therapies.

Grok told me about a lot of exciting approaches, from low dose radiation to stem cells. But it went overboard on the Socratic Method. Grok asked me question after question, far more than I can respond to at once.

So, I told Grok to back up. Let’s find out why knee pain happens. Also, I was intrigued by the Nexsphere-F that Grok mentioned, so I asked for more detail.

Why Knee Pain Happens

Grok explained that cartilage breakdown and bone spurs are major causes of knee pain. Repetitive stress and age can cause cartilage and bone problems.

The Nexsphere-F blocks blood vessels that cause pain and inflammation. That could help a patient be more mobile.

But I want to fix the root cause — the breakdown of cartilage. Is there any way to regrow it?

Let’s ask Grok…

Can We Regrow Cartilage?

Stem cell injections may work. The stem cells could grow into new cartilage, helping the knee function better. Stem cell therapies are in trials now.

Grok also mentioned a scaffolding that can be implanted in the knee. Cartilage could grow on the scaffolding.

I hope that some day soon, people can regrow their cartilage and move like they did decades ago.

Wrap-Up

Grok Socratic Mode gave me some great information. But it asks more questions that I can respond to at once, which makes the output less useful.

Socratic Mode should just ask one question at the end of each response. Then, it could be a great way to learn.

Overall, I’m giving Socratic Mode a B. If you want to learn with AI, you’re better off using the regular Grok Expert.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Note: This is not medical advice. I have zero qualifications in medicine. I’m just learning and sharing with you what I found.

More on tech:

Using Grok as My Personal Trainer

GPT-5 Fails Again

Brittanica Chatbot: A More Reliable AI?

Save Money on Stuff I Use:

Fundrise

This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.

Watching Eight Sleep’s YC Demo Day Pitch

October 16, 2025

$1.4 million in revenue at YC Demo Day. Even in 2015, Eight Sleep was a winner. This morning, I watched their original pitch.

What Matteo Gets Right

Founder Matteo Franceschetti gives a brief, focused pitch. He clearly explains what the company does and shows us strong traction.

Luna, as Eight Sleep was then called, makes mattress covers. The cover warms you or cools you, depending on your needs.

Getting to the ideal temperature helps you sleep better.

Matteo shows us he’s solving a huge problem. One third of Americans struggle with sleep.

Matteo’s deck is brief, with just 14 slides. Each slide contains a single thought. Matteo sticks with a brief phrase and big text, making it easy to read and absorb quickly.

The Trump Card: Gobs of Revenue

Best of all, Matteo has tons of revenue — $1.4 million by Demo Day.

This came from 6,000 pre-orders. 6,000 people paid thousands of dollars each before the product is even out!

Nothing is more convincing than cash in the bank.

What You Can Learn from Matteo

The most important thing Matteo gets right is selling 6,000 mattress covers.

Focus on getting some sales before you try to raise a round. If you have a few customers, raising capital is much easier.

When you’re ready to raise, make your deck brief and focused like Matteo’s. One thought per slide, no walls of text.

Finally, demonstrate your product.

Matteo showed investors a bed with a Luna cover. That’s a bit harder with a SaaS app, but you can still demonstrate how your product helps customers.

Wrap-Up

Investors don’t love consumer products. But Matteo shows us a high value product, a big market, and tons of sales.

VC’s ate up Matteo’s pitch, investing $6 million in the seed round in early 2016. That was a huge seed at the time.

Today, Eight Sleep is one of the most successful consumer products of the last decade. They recently raised $100 million at a $1 billion valuation.

Follow Matteo’s lead. Ring the register. Make a short and focused pitch.

Do that, and you could raise millions just like Matteo.

More on tech:

How I’m Surviving AI Mania

Meet My Latest Investment: Memelord

The Best Way to Share Your Deck with Investors

Save Money on Stuff I Use:

Fundrise

This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.

How I’m Surviving AI Mania

October 15, 2025

Today’s market is sleazy. Sharp elbows are out. Grifting is in. Everyone sees a huge prize, and they’ll do anything to get it.

Inside Today’s Overheated Market

Late 2025 feels a lot like 2021.

It’s not just the high prices. It’s people trying to screw each other. It’s bending and breaking the truth.

When the mania peaks, it feels like money is falling from the sky. All most people care about is grabbing some.

Working together is out. Selfishness and short-termism are in.

So Much For Working Together

During the down market, we worked together.

It was hard to get a company funded. Investors cooperated to make it happen. Founders were grateful for investors that were still writing checks, so they worked with us.

Now, companies get funded in a day. Founders have no reason to treat an investor like a partner.

What for? There are 20 others waiting to take his place.

Finding the Diamonds in the Rough

During AI mania, I’m looking at other corners of startupland, trying to find something unloved.

This summer, I invested in a social media startup. Remember social media? I also put a small check into a company that 3D prints houses out of concrete.

Instead of ripping a check into a $100 million seed round in a B2B agent startup, I’m meeting a medical tourism marketplace raising at a fraction of that.

Time to Pull Back?

Here’s another thing you can do in a hot market: nothing.

Look at the pricey investments done in 2021. Clubhouse, BeReal, Hopin, all struggling or gone.

Harry Stebbings of 20VC said he wishes he hadn’t done a single deal in 2021. We have that freedom.

If this mania continues, I may make fewer investments next year.

Wrap-Up

When I first invested in a Generative AI startup in June of 2022, no one gave a crap about AI.

ChatGPT hadn’t come out yet. NFT’s were the hot play.

The next big thing won’t be what everyone is rushing toward today.

I’m still going to invest in some great AI startups. But I’m also going to scour every neglected corner of this market.

In those corners, I will find something great.

More on tech:

Meet My Latest Investment: Verustruct

Meet My Latest Investment: Mozi

Yes, You Can Angel Invest $5k Direct

Save Money on Stuff I Use:

Fundrise

This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.

Brittanica Chatbot: A More Reliable AI?

October 14, 2025

Ever ask AI a question and get an answer from a random Reddit thread? Sick of bad answers, I tested the Encyclopedia Brittanica Chatbot.

Brittanica Chatbot uses articles from the Encyclopedia Brittanica to answer your question. These articles are written by experts in their fields.

This morning, I ran it through 3 tests…

Round #1: Teach Me About the Navy

Later today, I’m meeting with a startup that produces parts for naval ships. So I wondered, how does the navy handle repairs at sea?

Brittanica explained that sailors do many repairs themselves. A repair ship can come and do more complex maintenance.

The answer was helpful, but Brittanica didn’t cite any encyclopedia articles. I have no way of verifying Brittanica’s answer.

I’m giving this round a C.

Round #2: Learning About Knee Injuries

Half the people I know have knee problems. What’s the state of the art in fixing a bad knee?

Brittanica gave a thorough answer, digging into technologies from stem cells to gene therapy.

But again, Brittanica didn’t cite its own wonderful articles! Instead, it kicked the query to ChatGPT. I can’t verify if the response is accurate.

I’ll give this round a B.

Round #3: AI with a Green Thumb

For our last test, let’s do something fun!

My friend is turning his lawn into a carpet of wildflowers and other plants. Which plants work best?

This time, it cited several great Brittanica articles with specific recommendations. I love the periwinkle!

Brittanica’s answer was helpful. But I’d like to see specific plant recommendations right in the response, instead of making me click through.

I’ll give this answer a B+.

Wrap-Up

Overall, I’m giving Brittanica Chatbot a B-.

The concept is awesome. I‘d love to use a chatbot trained on articles written by experts.

But Brittanica Chatbot doesn’t deliver consistently. It often fails to cite Brittanica articles or any reliable source.

I’m excited to see how Brittanica Chatbot develops. With more expert-written articles and better indexing, it could become a real ChatGPT competitor.

Give Brittanica Chatbot a try and let me know what you think!

More on tech:

Meet My Latest Investment: Memelord

Stopping Mass Shootings with Technology

GPT-5 Fails Again

Save Money on Stuff I Use:

Fundrise

This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

More on Fundrise in this post.

If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

Misfits Market

I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order.