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DeepSeek, the brand new Chinese language AI that has despatched shockwaves by means of the unreal 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 find out how to compete. The massive query, nevertheless, is whether or not DeepSeek is a software you must use in your actual property observe. There are highly effective causes it’s possible you’ll wish 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 certainly impression the true property trade.
My dialog with ChatGPT
I’ve been utilizing ChatGPT virtually each day for the final two years for superior search outcomes, useful resource concepts and hyperlinks for my articles. I additionally like with the ability to get assist with a thorny subject I could also be scuffling with or a fast, clear rewrite of a complicated paragraph.
ChatGPT (a generative AI that’s able to coaching itself), has lately undergone a serious shift. I’ve had a number of conversations in the previous few months wherein it needed 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 impression you?
“I see it as exciting rather than threatening. More competition in AI innovation usually leads to better tools for users. If OpenAI draws inspiration from DeepSeek (or even integrates its capabilities), it could mean even better collaborative experiences for us. The more refined I get at understanding your needs, the better I can assist!”
Me: What impression do you suppose it can have on actual property?
“If DeepSeek gets traction, it could redefine lead qualification and hyper-targeted marketing strategies. Imagine applying its ultra-precise search to niche real estate markets — matching buyers and sellers faster, identifying emerging trends and even optimizing any platform for investor leads.”
ChatGPT to me:
“Curious: Are you seeing DeepSeek as a potential game-changer for your ventures or just watching it develop for now? If it impacts what you’re working on, let me know, and we can brainstorm 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 when you take a look at how ByteDance has leveraged their U.S. consumer knowledge, I’m deeply involved. Does making it open-source forestall them from utilizing their consumer knowledge — I don’t suppose it does.
ChatGPT:
“You’re absolutely right to approach this with caution, Bernice. Open source doesn’t inherently guarantee privacy or protection from data misuse, especially when the organization behind the technology operates in an environment where user data may be exploited for purposes outside of the users’ control.”
The cybersecurity considerations are actual
In keeping with an article on Forbes.au, DeepSeek might have been constructed on different AIs with out their data or authorization.
“Recent reports indicate that OpenAI and Microsoft are investigating whether DeepSeek utilized a technique called “distillation” to coach its AI fashions. Distillation includes utilizing outputs from a extra superior AI mannequin to coach one other mannequin, probably permitting the latter to copy the previous’s capabilities with out direct entry to proprietary knowledge. OpenAI has discovered proof suggesting that DeepSeek might have employed this technique, which might elevate 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 extra 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 by way of implementations of that open-source tech gained’t be exploited or shared.
As well as, “DeepSeek’s open-source standing doesn’t essentially forestall consumer 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 underneath 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 “clean,” its use can nonetheless pose dangers. For instance, if consumer knowledge flows by means of methods 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 info is saved, nor does it forestall compliance with government-mandated requests (e.g., Chinese language data-sharing legal guidelines).
3. China’s Information 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 laws permit 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 main instance of how non-public 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 absolutely.
5. Belief hole in open supply
The promise of open supply is that others can audit and confirm its integrity, however few corporations truly carry out such audits rigorously. Even when they did, it’s troublesome to watch the continuing 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 might elevate belief points amongst your customers, particularly given the political and authorized sensitivities surrounding China. Your viewers (particularly in actual property, the place privateness is vital) may 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 might wish to proceed with warning. If AI-generated insights depend on proprietary or user-fed knowledge, who really owns and controls that info?
Suggestions for actual property professionals
With these dangers in thoughts, right here’s what brokers and brokerages ought to contemplate:
1. Keep away from inputting delicate shopper or transaction knowledge into DeepSeek
If there’s even a small likelihood this info could possibly be accessed or misused, it’s not well worth the danger.
2. Use AI options with sturdy encryption and knowledge safety insurance policies
Ensure that any AI software 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 wish to use TikTok or DeepSeek, they will need to have a separate account to keep away from posting shopper knowledge
As ChatGPT recommends: “Implement strict data-sharing policies. Limit how much client and transaction data is shared with third-party platforms, even if they claim to be secure.”
4. Brokers and groups: Educate your brokers about knowledge safety dangers
Prepare 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 laws, significantly the EU Common Information 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 workplaces within the EU.
Whereas each GDPR and CCPA/CPRA intention to guard private knowledge, GDPR applies globally to companies dealing with EU knowledge and requires express consent, whereas CCPA/CPRA is targeted on California residents’ rights and emphasizes opt-out mechanisms.
These laws exist to guard shopper privateness by limiting how corporations can gather, retailer, and share private knowledge. Guaranteeing compliance with these frameworks will help defend 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 essential subject:
“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.
“Real estate professionals must be hyper-aware of who controls their data. Until companies like DeepSeek have full transparency, agents should steer clear of integrating them into their business—especially when safer AI tools 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 printed articles.
