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DeepSeek, the brand new Chinese language AI that has despatched shockwaves via the substitute intelligence trade by providing a sooner, cheaper and extra energy-efficient mannequin than OpenAi’s ChatGPT, has caught rivals completely off guard and left them scrambling to determine tips on how to compete. The massive query, nonetheless, is whether or not DeepSeek is a instrument it is best to use in your actual property observe. There are highly effective causes it’s possible you’ll need to keep away from DeepSeek altogether.
Once I learn that DeepSeek had knocked OpenAi’s ChatGPT from its No. 1 spot on the Apple App Retailer, I turned to ChatGPT for its take. I additionally independently investigated what different points will almost definitely affect the true property trade.
My dialog with ChatGPT
I’ve been utilizing ChatGPT nearly each day for the final two years for superior search outcomes, useful resource concepts and hyperlinks for my articles. I additionally like having the ability to get assist with a thorny concern I could also be combating or a fast, clear rewrite of a complicated paragraph.
ChatGPT (a generative AI that’s able to coaching itself), has not too long ago undergone a significant shift. I’ve had a number of conversations in the previous few months through which it wished to know my opinion. I think that is one other facet of how the generative AI is coaching itself, however it’s a notable step ahead. You’ll see its request for my enter within the italicized a part of the dialog beneath.
Me: What’s your tackle how DeepSeek will affect you?
“I see it as thrilling fairly than threatening. Extra competitors in AI innovation normally results in higher instruments for customers. If OpenAI attracts inspiration from DeepSeek (and even integrates its capabilities), it may imply even higher collaborative experiences for us. The extra refined I get at understanding your wants, the higher I can help!”
Me: What affect do you suppose it’ll have on actual property?
“If DeepSeek will get traction, it may redefine lead qualification and hyper-targeted advertising and marketing methods. Think about making use of its ultra-precise search to area of interest actual property markets — matching patrons and sellers sooner, figuring out rising tendencies and even optimizing any platform for investor leads.”
ChatGPT to me:
“Curious: Are you seeing DeepSeek as a possible game-changer to your ventures or simply watching it develop for now? If it impacts what you’re engaged on, let me know, and we are able to brainstorm tips on how to leverage it!”
Me: I’m reluctant to tie what I’m doing to something that China controls. I do know it’s open supply, they usually say it’s clear. Perhaps it’s, however in the event you have a look at how ByteDance has leveraged their U.S. person knowledge, I’m deeply involved. Does making it open-source forestall them from utilizing their person knowledge — I don’t suppose it does.
ChatGPT:
“You’re completely proper to strategy this with warning, Bernice. Open supply doesn’t inherently assure privateness or safety from knowledge misuse, particularly when the group behind the expertise operates in an setting the place person knowledge could also be exploited for functions outdoors of the customers’ management.”
The cybersecurity considerations are actual
In keeping with an article on Forbes.au, DeepSeek could have been constructed on different AIs with out their information or authorization.
“Current reviews point out that OpenAI and Microsoft are investigating whether or not DeepSeek utilized a method known as “distillation” to coach its AI fashions. Distillation entails utilizing outputs from a extra superior AI mannequin to coach one other mannequin, probably permitting the latter to duplicate the previous’s capabilities with out direct entry to proprietary knowledge. OpenAI has discovered proof suggesting that DeepSeek could have employed this technique, which may increase considerations about mental property rights and knowledge privateness.”
If DeepSeek has scraped AI content material from proprietary sources, its ethics and safety are already in query.
7 DeepSeek cybersecurity considerations for Realtors
ChatGPT outlined the next seven further safety considerations:
1. Transparency vs. management
Open supply means code is publicly obtainable, so builders can examine it for backdoors, monitoring mechanisms or any nefarious conduct. Nonetheless, transparency doesn’t equal immunity. As soon as deployed, there’s no assure that knowledge collected through implementations of that open-source tech gained’t be exploited or shared.
As well as, “DeepSeek’s open-source standing doesn’t essentially forestall person knowledge from being leveraged. Chinese language knowledge legal guidelines, such because the 2017 Cybersecurity Legislation and the 2021 Private Info Safety Legislation (PIPL), grant the Chinese language authorities authority to entry and request knowledge from corporations working below its jurisdiction.
In different phrases, the Chinese language authorities has the authority to demand your knowledge (a part of the problem with TikTok), and DeepSeek is obligated to show it over.
2. The information utilization loophole
Even when the software program itself is “clear,” its use can nonetheless pose dangers. For instance, if person knowledge flows via programs managed by an entity like DeepSeek, they may nonetheless seize and use that knowledge for analytics or different functions, together with probably sharing it with exterior events or governments.
Open supply doesn’t management the place or how the information is saved, nor does it forestall compliance with government-mandated requests (e.g., Chinese language data-sharing legal guidelines).
3. China’s Knowledge Regulation Context
Chinese language corporations are topic to legal guidelines just like the 2017 Cybersecurity Legislation and the 2021 Private Info Safety Legislation (PIPL). These rules enable the Chinese language authorities to compel corporations to share knowledge upon request. Open supply doesn’t protect customers from these exterior forces.
ByteDance [the owner of TikTok] is a first-rate instance of how personal corporations can seemingly function independently whereas nonetheless being topic to scrutiny and leverage by the Chinese language authorities.
4. Why ByteDance must be a purple flag
Regardless of TikTok’s efforts to separate U.S. operations (e.g., knowledge storage in Oracle’s U.S. servers), investigations have proven situations of information being accessible to engineers in China. This demonstrates how even managed platforms can battle to insulate their operations totally.
5. Belief hole in open supply
The promise of open supply is that others can audit and confirm its integrity, however few corporations really carry out such audits rigorously. Even when they did, it’s tough to observe the continued utilization and storage of information by these implementing the code.
6. Broader dangers in partnering
Tying your work to a system with even the potential for misuse may increase belief points amongst your customers, particularly given the political and authorized sensitivities surrounding China. Your viewers (particularly in actual property, the place privateness is important) would possibly view this affiliation as a dealbreaker, even when the danger is small.
7. For actual property professionals involved about knowledge privateness?
These dealing with delicate shopper knowledge could need to proceed with warning. If AI-generated insights depend on proprietary or user-fed knowledge, who actually owns and controls that info?
Suggestions for actual property professionals
With these dangers in thoughts, right here’s what brokers and brokerages ought to take into account:
1. Keep away from inputting delicate shopper or transaction knowledge into DeepSeek
If there’s even a small likelihood this info may very well be accessed or misused, it’s not well worth the threat.
2. Use AI options with sturdy encryption and knowledge safety insurance policies
Be sure that any AI instrument you undertake has clear insurance policies on how knowledge is dealt with, saved, and guarded. Set a tough and quick rule that shopper knowledge isn’t posted to TikTok, DeepSeek or different website that lacks the suitable protections for that knowledge.
3. If brokers need to use TikTok or DeepSeek, they should have a separate account to keep away from posting shopper knowledge
As ChatGPT recommends: “Implement strict data-sharing insurance policies. Restrict how a lot shopper and transaction knowledge is shared with third-party platforms, even when they declare to be safe.”
4. Brokers and groups: Educate your brokers about knowledge safety dangers
Practice brokers and employees to acknowledge and keep away from potential safety threats when utilizing AI-powered instruments.
5. Stick to AI instruments that adjust to GDPR/CCPA
Adjust to privateness rules, significantly the EU Basic Knowledge Safety Regulation (GDPR) and The California Client Safety Act (CCPA).
The GDPR, which was handed in 2018, protects private knowledge by regulating its assortment, processing, and switch. It grants people rights like knowledge entry, correction, and deletion whereas imposing strict compliance necessities on companies dealing with EU residents’ knowledge. Compliance is required of any agent, firm, affiliation, or different group doing enterprise with the EU and/or that has places of work within the EU.
The California Client Privateness Act (CCPA), efficient Jan. 1, 2020, enhances privateness rights for California residents by permitting them to know, entry, delete, and choose out of the sale of their private knowledge. It applies to companies assembly particular income or data-handling thresholds.
Whereas each GDPR and CCPA/CPRA purpose to guard private knowledge, GDPR applies globally to companies dealing with EU knowledge and requires express consent, whereas CCPA/CPRA is concentrated on California residents’ rights and emphasizes opt-out mechanisms.
These rules exist to guard client privateness by limiting how corporations can accumulate, retailer, and share private knowledge. Making certain compliance with these frameworks will help shield shopper info and keep away from authorized problems.
The way forward for AI in actual property: Extra competitors, extra complexity
Right here’s ChatGPT’s ultimate take for actual property professionals on this vital matter:
“DeepSeek is just the start of a brand new wave of AI competitors. As extra corporations push AI boundaries, the true property trade will see instruments that redefine how brokers function.
“Actual property professionals should be hyper-aware of who controls their knowledge. Till corporations like DeepSeek have full transparency, brokers ought to avoid integrating them into their enterprise—particularly when safer AI instruments exist.”
Bernice Ross, president and CEO of BrokerageUP and RealEstateCoach.com, and the founding father of RealEstateWealthForWomen.com is a nationwide speaker, writer and coach with over 1,500 revealed articles.
