We stand at a watershed moment, marked by the emergence of DeepSeek, a large language model that operates at less than a tenth of current industry costs. This represents more than just another AI model – it signals a fundamental shift in what’s possible.

As DeepSeek demonstrates the feasibility of dramatically lower computing costs, it is opening the way for a new generation of affordable AI solutions that will transform how organizations approach artificial intelligence. For the marketing industry, this cost revolution promises to reshape everything from customer engagement to campaign optimization.

Consider how cost has historically shaped technology adoption. When TV advertising began, only the largest brands could afford prime-time slots. As costs decreased and cable/satellite channels proliferated, television advertising became accessible to local businesses. The same pattern emerged with digital advertising – what began as the domain of major corporations eventually became a standard tool for businesses of all sizes.