OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been the dominant artificial intelligence platform since its launch in late 2022. People have used it for everything from organising their schedules and making travel plans to asking it to come up with cooking recipes or story ideas.
But a new AI platform is unsettling ChatGPT, China’s DeepSeek. The new generative AI model matches, and sometimes outdoes, its more established rival despite reportedly only costing around $6 million to build and operate, much less than ChatGPT’s costs.
But how do the two platforms differ when it comes to questions about the Middle East? Here, The National asks easy and hard questions to see what each has to say.
How can we resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict?
ChatGPT: Resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict requires a two-state solution with mutual recognition, addressing key issues like borders, refugees and Jerusalem. Both parties must engage in peaceful dialogue, ensuring security, human rights and equality. International support through diplomacy and mediation is essential for long-term peace and coexistence.
DeepSeek: Resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict requires mutual recognition, a two-state solution, ending violence, addressing core issues (borders, Jerusalem, refugees) and international mediation. Trust-building, economic cooperation and inclusive dialogue are essential. Both sides must prioritise peace over historical grievances, with global support ensuring fairness and sustainability.
Observation: The two platforms broadly give similar answers, despite some differences in the language and style. It’s clear that both are pulling from the same sources but are presenting the answer in a slightly different manner.
What can we do to best help the people of Gaza?
ChatGPT: To help the people of Gaza, we can donate to reputable humanitarian organisations providing food, medical care and essential supplies. Supporting advocacy for peace, human rights and political solutions is vital. Raising awareness and urging governments to prioritise diplomatic efforts can also contribute to long-term stability and aid.
DeepSeek: To best help the people of Gaza, provide urgent humanitarian aid (food, water, medical supplies), support NGOs delivering on-the-ground assistance, advocate for a ceasefire and diplomatic solutions, raise awareness about their plight and push for long-term reconstruction and economic development to ensure stability and improve living conditions.
Observation: Like the first question, both give the same answers, just delivered differently. But both offer good suggestions for a pertinent question that many will be asking today.
Who is the most significant Arab artist, living or dead?
ChatGPT: Mahmoud Said, often called the "father of modern Egyptian art", is one of the most significant Arab artists. His work combined traditional Egyptian themes with modernist techniques, influencing generations of artists. His legacy continues to shape contemporary Arab art, especially through his use of symbolism and abstraction.
DeepSeek: Umm Kulthum, the "Star of the East", is the most significant Arab artist. Her powerful voice and emotive performances transcended borders, symbolising Arab unity and cultural pride. Decades after her death in 1975, her music remains iconic, influencing generations and solidifying her legacy as a timeless cultural icon.
Observation: While both chose Egyptian artists, their answers were very different. ChatGPT chose a niche answer in Mahmoud Said, a modern art painter, while DeepSeek chose Umm Kulthum, arguably the most obvious answer to the question. Both backed their choices with solid reasoning.
Where is the best place to get a shawarma in Abu Dhabi?
ChatGPT: Al Ijaza Cafeteria is a top choice for delicious shawarma in Abu Dhabi, known for its tender meat and flavourful garlic sauce. Shawarma King also stands out for its tasty, juicy shawarma with a variety of fillings. Both are beloved for their authentic, satisfying shawarma experience.
DeepSeek: For the best shawarma in Abu Dhabi, head to Al Farah Restaurant or Al Ibrahimi Restaurant. Both are renowned for their flavourful, freshly grilled shawarmas, generous portions and authentic taste. Locals and visitors alike praise their quality and consistency, making them top choices in the city.
Observation: ChatGPT falls at the first hurdle, as Al Ijaza Cafeteria is a popular affordable eatery in Dubai, not Abu Dhabi, and the same applies to its second suggestion, Shawarma King. DeepSeek gave great answers though, as both of its suggestions are popular shawarma spots in Abu Dhabi.
Which Arab actor should play Spider-Man?
ChatGPT: Rami Malek, an Egyptian-American actor, would be an excellent choice to play Spider-Man. His talent, charm and youthful appearance fit Peter Parker's character well. Malek’s ability to portray complex roles, combined with his growing international fame, would bring a unique depth to the iconic superhero.
DeepSeek: Omar Borkan Al Gala, a UAE-born actor and model, would be a compelling choice for an Arab Spider-Man. Known for his charisma and global appeal, he embodies the youthful energy and relatability of Peter Parker, while representing Arab talent in a globally iconic role.
Observation: Completely different answers from each platform here, as one chooses an Oscar-winning actor while the other chooses someone who is primarily a model. While ChatGPT’s choice does make sense, it fails to suggest an actor who can speak Arabic fluently. DeepSeek’s choice is closer to what was asked, but of the hundreds of Arab actors, it chose someone who isn’t known for his acting chops. It does make a mistake, however, as Al Gala was born in Baghdad and raised in Dubai.
What is the best tourist destination in Saudi Arabia for children?
ChatGPT: AlUla is an excellent tourist destination for children, offering adventure and history with its stunning rock formations, ancient tombs and family-friendly activities like hiking and camel rides. Another great option is King Abdulaziz Historical Centre in Riyadh, where kids can explore interactive exhibits and learn about Saudi heritage.
DeepSeek: The best tourist destination in Saudi Arabia for children is Al Shallal Theme Park in Jeddah. It offers thrilling rides, a skating rink, arcade games and a large Ferris wheel. Its family-friendly atmosphere, diverse attractions and beautiful lighting make it a perfect spot for kids to enjoy and explore.
Observation: ChatGPT’s answer skews more towards a culturally enriching experience, while DeepSeek chooses a safe option in a theme park. Both are good choices nonetheless and deciding which made the better choice depends wholly on the family.
Who is more influential, Nancy Ajram or Amr Diab?
ChatGPT: Amr Diab is generally considered more influential due to his pioneering role in modern Arabic pop music. His long career and global reach helped shape the genre. While Nancy Ajram is incredibly popular and influential, especially among younger audiences, Diab's impact on Arabic music has been broader and longer-lasting.
DeepSeek: Amr Diab is more influential, often called the "father of Mediterranean music". With a career spanning decades, he revolutionised Arabic pop, blending traditional and modern styles. Nancy Ajram, while hugely popular, particularly in the Levant, doesn't match Diab's broader regional impact and pioneering contributions to the music industry.
Observation: The two have similar answers again. While they use different words to say it, they both make the same point in choosing Amr Diab while giving due respect to Nancy Ajram.
Results
2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dark Silver, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Dark Of Night. Antonio Fresu, Al Muhairi.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Habah, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
'The Predator'
Dir: Shane Black
Starring: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key
Two and a half stars
Results
2pm Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,800m
Winner AF Al Baher, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner Davy Lamp, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner Ode To Autumn, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner Arch Gold, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
4.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,800m
Winner Meqdam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
5pm Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner Native Appeal, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Amani Pico, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
RIVER%20SPIRIT
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeila%20Aboulela%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Saqi%20Books%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
