The Download: sustainable architecture, and DeepSeek’s success

Material Cultures, a London-based nonprofit, is focusing on sustainable architecture by exploring traditional methods to create new buildings using local materials, aiming to address the environmental impact of the construction industry. Meanwhile, DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has achieved success with its open-source reasoning model, DeepSeek R1, which competes with top AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT o1 at a lower cost despite facing challenges from US export controls on advanced chips. The article also highlights other tech news stories, such as Google's ruling on Chrome and advancements in AI applications, military technology, and environmental solutions like using wax worms to tackle plastic pollution.