Deepseek challenges ChatGPT and Co.

Deepseek is shaking up the market with its large language models. The AI models developed by this Chinese startup are said to be at least as powerful as those behind ChatGPT and similar services, yet require significantly fewer resources.

(Image: John Cameron/Unsplash.com)

When a company launches its own large-scale language model, this is usually no longer big news these days. It's a different story with Deepseek, whose AI products Deepseek V3 and Deepseek R1 have been making headlines for days now - and not just for that: the share prices of well-known AI companies such as Nvidia have also taken a tumble in recent days, such as Euronews reports.

The main reason for the uproar is that the Deepseek AI models appear to perform better in various performance tests than large language models from well-known manufacturers. At the same time, Deepseek's AI can be executed with significantly fewer resources, meaning that less powerful processors are required.

Deepseek also makes its fully trained AI models available as open source. This means that they can all be run on their own hardware and further developed for specific use cases.

Turning chip necessity into a virtue

Added to all this is the fact that the start-up Deepseek is based in China. The company was founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, as can be seen in a portrait by Wired can be taken from the portal. He started Deepseek for research and out of curiosity, not to make a short-term profit, the portal quotes the founder from an interview.

If the US had its way, Chinese companies would not be able to make any great leaps in AI - at least not with Western technology. The United States is making sure of this by restricting chip exports to China. But how Wired it seems that this is exactly what helped Deepseek to succeed: According to the article, the company had 10,000 A100 chips from Nvidia at its disposal for its developments - which is little compared to the many resources of major Western players. The start-up made a virtue of necessity and then endeavored to develop its AI as efficiently as possible in order to compensate for the disadvantages of the comparatively weaker processors.

The fact that the player from China has succeeded in doing this is a shock to many Western companies, according to a Analysis by Ben Thompson. Deepseek not only shows what China is capable of. In general, the company has proven that the most expensive hardware is not necessary to increase the performance of an AI model. (René Jaun/dda)


This article first appeared in Netzwoche.

Excom Media now markets the DOOH screens at the Würenlos highway service station

Excom Media will handle the marketing of the DOOH screens at the Würenlos highway rest stop, one of the busiest rest stops in Switzerland.

The service station, also known colloquially as the "food bar", has 18 stores, four restaurants and 40 fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. The marketing offer includes a total of four ultra-large LED walls (210 inches) at the entrance - two each in the direction of Zurich and Bern - as well as eight strategically placed 55-inch screens in the interior. This advertising infrastructure is said to generate around 1.3 million gross contacts per week.

Excom Media also emphasizes the convincing cost-effectiveness of the advertising space. An attractive thousand-contact price (CPM) enables cost-efficient campaigns with a wide reach and lasting success. The marketing company describes the location as particularly exciting for the advertising market.

The twelve screens can be booked programmatically directly via Excom Media or the most common DSPs.

Numéro10 pays tribute to its customer Le Gruyère AOP

For the past four years, Numéro10 has been supporting Le Gruyère AOP with its communications on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook, both in Switzerland and internationally. In a showreel, the agency now showcases a selection of the best content moments from the collaboration.

In its work for Le Gruyère AOP, the bilingual agency based in Bern focuses on creating didactic and entertaining content that is designed to engage users.

The agency has developed series in its in-house video studio that are specially tailored to Le Gruyère AOP. These include documentaries that provide insights into the industry and its various professions, culinary excursions into the idyllic production region, product shots that change with the seasons - and even games in the studio with a presenter.

Now Numéro10 is paying tribute to Le Gruyère AOP with a showreel featuring a selection of the best moments of their collaboration.

Dynamite designs branding for BacDevil

The Zug-based agency Dynamite designed and implemented the overall brand identity for «BacDevil.» The toothbrush cup is the result of a startup project.

While many toothbrush cups are neglected in terms of hygiene, BacDevil aims to offer an effective defense against bacteria with innovative ceramic and tourmaline enrichment. A three-point support system is designed to ensure optimum air circulation so that the toothbrushes dry quickly after use. This prevents moisture from remaining and bacteria from forming.

Dynamite is responsible for the branding, the independent cup design, the content, the design of the website Bacdevil.ch and the photographs.



Responsible at BacDevil: Marius Fontana (inventor and owner). Responsible for Dynamite: Roger Bosshart (consulting and text); Ralitsa Ruseva (art direction); Aleksandra Wolkow (graphics and reel).

Corpmedia for Coca-Cola HBC: Modular approach to employer branding

The Corpmedia agency has designed and implemented a comprehensive campaign for Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland that aims to set new standards in employer branding through a modular approach.

The aim of the campaign was to emphasize the position of business developers (BD) as key players in the company. A modular Storyworld framework was used for this purpose.

In order to meet the high demands of Coca-Cola HBC's international network and at the same time reach employees throughout Switzerland, a modular feature-length film was created. This was provided with versatile "predetermined breaking points" that allow targeted adaptations for different channels and target groups.

For the production, Corpmedia used the Sony Burano cinema camera, which shot in 8.6K resolution and thus ensured the highest image quality. The focus was on dynamic transitions and fresh locations in and around Zurich to give the campaign an unmistakable aesthetic.

According to the agency, the reactions to the campaign were consistently positive. The quality of the images and the dramaturgical implementation were particularly well received. Thanks to the modular structure and high resolution, the material can be used for both digital channels and print campaigns.

Benedikt Locher becomes the new director of Blue Cinemas

Effective early February 2025, Benedikt Locher will take over as Chief Product Officer of Blue Cinemas at Blue Entertainment.

(Image: zVg.)

Benedikt Locher has extensive experience in managing large organizations as well as in strategy development and implementation, as detailed in a press release. Most recently, he was Head of Design, Delivery & Operations at Swisscom, where he was responsible for enterprise customers.

Locher also has in-depth expertise in the private customer segment: he played a leading role in the redesign of the overall experience of all Swisscom stores and their conversion from 2010 to 2014. The business economist with a degree from the University of St. Gallen is familiar with both retail and B2B business and has an excellent network within the Group. In his free time, the 40-year-old family man enjoys being active in the great outdoors with his family.

"I am very much looking forward to making an active contribution to the further development and strengthening of Blue Cinema in my new role. It is particularly important to me to build on the existing strengths together with my organization and to combine the best customer experience with innovation," says Benedikt Locher.

ZFF with expanded management

The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is restructuring its organization. Starting in January 2025, Festival Director Christian Jungen will be supported by a leadership team: Reta Guetg will become Deputy Director, Alessandro Monsurrò will take over as Managing Director of Spoundation Motion Picture, and Marco Misuraca will become Director of Operations.

New members of the Zurich Film Festival management: Reta Guetg, Alessandro Monsurrò and Marco Misuraca (from left to right). (Pictures: zVg. ZFF)

Festival Director Christian Jungen, who has been with the ZFF since 2019, will remain responsible for programming, public relations and attracting new partners. He will be supported by a three-person team consisting of Reta Guetg, Alessandro Monsurrò and Marco Misuraca. With the expansion of the management team, the ZFF wants to set the course for the sustainable further development of the festival.

Reta Guetg has been appointed Vice Director. The long-standing Co-Program Director and Head of Industry will represent Jungen in artistic matters, including program, guests and public relations. With an academic background in film studies and journalism and experience as co-founder of the short film festival "Shnit", she has played a key role in shaping the ZFF over the past ten years.

Alessandro Monsurrò takes over the position of Managing Director of Spoundation Motion Picture, the ZFF's marketing agency. He will lead the Media, Marketing, Partnerships and Hospitality teams. Monsurrò has been part of the ZFF since 2023 and brings with him over 20 years of experience in the international financial sector.

Marco Misuraca is the new Operations Director at Spoundation Motion Picture. He is responsible for operational processes, including controlling, digital processes and event management. Misuraca has been with the ZFF since 2022 and was previously Head of Events and Business Manager.

Roger Crotti focuses on VR

Roger Crotti, previously Managing Director of Spoundation Motion Picture, will in future concentrate on his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors. In this role, he will remain closely involved in the strategic development of the festival.

Further training: AI is being used, but the skills are lacking

Swiss continuing education providers use artificial intelligence (AI) primarily in marketing, communication, and teaching and learning settings. However, according to a survey by the Swiss Association for Continuing Education (SVEB), there is a lack of the necessary skills: Only 39 percent of institutions consider their employees to be sufficiently qualified.

(Graphics: SVEB)

The use of AI is also becoming increasingly important in continuing education. An SVEB survey of 423 organizations shows that 32% are already using AI, 13% are planning to start, while a quarter are ruling it out in the near future.

AI is used particularly in marketing and communication as well as for the creation of learning materials. Frequently used tools such as ChatGPT or DeepL make everyday work easier. Two thirds of respondents expect AI to improve the quality of continuing education, especially in the individualization of teaching and learning opportunities.

Ethical challenges and competenciesgaps

Despite the positive expectations, 60 percent of providers see ethical risks such as data protection problems or the potential displacement of teachers.

However, the biggest hurdle remains the qualifications of staff: Only 39 percent of organizations rate the skills of their employees as sufficient. Nevertheless, 80 percent are open to AI. To close the gap, 44% of training providers already offer training courses ranging from basic knowledge to specialized applications.


The data of the SVEB provider survey were obtained from an online survey of continuing education providers in all three language regions between 30 April and 28 May 2024. The participants represent organizations of various sizes and orientations, from continuing vocational training to basic skills development.

To the entire FOCUS continuing education study of the SVEB

How widespread stress is in German-speaking Switzerland

A study by Marketagent Switzerland, a digital market and opinion research institute, examines stress levels among the population in German-speaking Switzerland. The results show how widespread stress is, which factors are particularly stressful, and which strategies help people stay resilient.

(Graphics: Marketagent.com)

The average stress level in German-speaking Switzerland is 3.7 on a scale of 1 (very low) to 7 (very high). While 12% of respondents rate their stress level as high, one in five (24%) feel little to no stress. Everyday life is particularly challenging for people with care responsibilities: Both parents and people who look after relatives in need of care report significantly higher stress levels. "Care tasks are among the often invisible but enormously stressful stress factors that urgently deserve more social attention," says Andrea Berger, Research & Communications Manager at Marketagent.

Work, time pressure and finances as stress triggers

At 37% and 33% respectively, time pressure and financial worries are among the biggest stress factors in German-speaking Switzerland. More than three in ten people (32% in each case) are also stressed by the work survey and work, career and education in general. Teenagers and young adults feel the pressure of school, studies and the like particularly strongly: with 48% agreeing, this is by far the biggest stress trigger in the 14 to 29 age group.

Social media is stressful

The study clearly shows that a healthy lifestyle can help to alleviate stress. Participants with lower stress levels reported better eating, sleeping and exercise habits. People who pay attention to a healthy daily routine therefore benefit both physically and mentally. In contrast, constant digital accessibility appears to be a risk factor for mental health. People with higher stress levels are more likely to use their smartphone to check messages or calls. Intensive social media use also correlates with increased feelings of stress.

Reactions to stress

Stress leaves clear traces: irritability and impatience (55%) as well as sleep problems (45%) are the most common immediate reactions. It is particularly alarming that more than six out of ten respondents report long-term physical complaints such as sleep disorders, headaches or back pain (64%). This highlights the need for preventive measures.

Burnout: one in four feels at risk

One in five respondents (20%) had already experienced burnout themselves, and three in ten know someone affected in their own environment. "It is particularly worrying that 26% of the survey participants classify themselves as (rather) at risk of burnout - in the group with a high stress level, this figure is as high as 63%. These figures show how urgently society needs to change towards more prevention and support," emphasizes Thomas Schwabl, founder of Marketagent Switzerland.

Learn stress management

Almost one in two (49%) have already actively informed themselves about stress management. At the same time, around three quarters (73%) demand that stress management should be an integral part of schools and vocational training programs. "This is an opportunity to take a preventative approach and promote stress competence. The results clearly show that young people in particular are under enormous pressure due to the demands of school and work. Overall, more support and attention is needed to help them cope with these pressures," explains study director Silke Hirschberger.

Nature as the key to relaxation

Only just under half of German-speaking Swiss manage to maintain their composure in stressful situations (49%). Relaxation is also a challenge: Only 52% are able to relax very or fairly well, with only 18% managing to do so very well.

The most effective measures for coping with stress are spending time in nature and getting enough sleep - a good six out of ten respondents find these strategies particularly helpful. 45% also consciously use time out in nature in their everyday lives. 42% get enough sleep.

One in five people consciously make time for relaxation exercises every day. People with a low stress level are particularly successful at this - a third of them (33%) have firmly integrated these relaxation breaks into their daily routine. On the other hand, there is a worrying vicious circle: precisely those who need relaxation most urgently are unable to find space for it. In the group with a high stress level, 41% state that they would like to do relaxation exercises regularly, but are currently unable to incorporate them into their everyday lives.

New platform shows why Switzerland should be discovered by public transport

With a new platform, Travel Switzerland aims to encourage people around the world to switch to Swiss public transportation. Studio Marvin Hugentobler is responsible for the implementation, and Kreation Lübke is handling the creative work.

The benefits of public transport no longer need to be explained to people in Switzerland. The situation is different for visitors from all over the world. And that is the job of Swiss Travel System. The marketing company was founded in 2011 by SBB, Switzerland Tourism and five Swiss public transport companies. It markets Swiss public transport worldwide under the brand Travel Switzerland.

Since December 2024, this has been done under the new "5+ Reasons" platform, for which the two creative directors Marvin Hugentobler and David Lübke are responsible. The aim of the new communication is to convince international guests to opt for the train, bus, boat and other public transport services in Switzerland - both for traveling from neighbouring countries and for exploring the country itself.

A quintet of reasons makes the start

There are various reasons why you should visit Switzerland. Many of them are familiar from James Bond, Bollywood films or even Heidi. However, many people are probably less aware that the best way to discover the country is by public transport. The new communication therefore focuses on the five most important reasons for using public transport: The view, the reach, the reliability, the sustainability and the ticket.

The platform and its messages were deliberately designed to be open, so that other reasons can - and will - easily be added to these five most important ones in the coming years. Because just as there is always another reason to visit Switzerland, there is always another reason to choose public transport.

Sustainability as a guiding principle

The reason "The Sustainability" is a special case. On the one hand, sustainability is a megatrend that is also reflected in people's travel habits: Slow travel and mindfulness are becoming increasingly important. And on the other hand, it is of course a field in which Swiss public transport has always communicated. This is why the new platform goes one step deeper and already provides five additional sub-reasons that are subordinate to sustainability.

The platform was launched in December 2024 and will be used in all relevant target markets and numerous channels around the globe from 2025.


Responsible at Swiss Travel System: Philipp Schad (Project Manager 5 Reasons), Tanja Blumer (Project Manager Sustainability), Nathalie Jakober (Creative Consultant/Project Manager Marketing Production), Michael Kistler (Media Designer), Wido Kuhlemeier (Copywriter), Nadia Ficer (Head of Marketing Production), Andy Niederhauser (Head of Marketing Coordination) . Responsible at Studio Marvin HugentoblerMarvin Hugentobler (Creative Direction). Responsible at Kreation Lübke: David Lübke (Creative Direction).

BAK provides new impetus for Swiss film policy

At the Solothurn Film Festival, the Federal Office of Culture (BAK) set the course for film funding starting in 2026. The focus is on audiences, diversity, and sustainability, complemented by new approaches to international networking and the promotion of innovative formats.

At the Solothurn Film Festival, the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) presented the main features of a comprehensive further development of film policy. The aim is to realign the policy towards a global audiovisual policy that takes greater account of changing consumer habits and current challenges facing the industry. The resulting measures for the 2026 to 2028 funding period will be adopted in the fall of 2025 and should apply from January 2026.

Focus on audience, diversity and sustainability

The federal government's future film funding aims to take greater account of different audience groups. In addition to cinema releases, streaming platforms, festivals and other channels will also come into focus. In addition, genre diversity is to be promoted - productions aimed at a broader audience, such as family films, are to receive more support, as the BAK writes.

The transparency of funding decisions is also to be improved. Special coaching is planned for the promotion of young filmmakers in order to provide them with targeted support. In addition, the BAK would like to promote innovative projects such as XR (Extended Reality) and strengthen ecological sustainability and fair remuneration in filmmaking.

International networking and structural adjustments

The promotion of international cooperation plays a central role. New co-production agreements are intended to give Swiss productions greater visibility abroad. At the same time, better coordination between regional, national and private funding bodies is planned in order to realize larger projects more efficiently.

Response to the digital transformation

The strategic realignment is based, among other things, on the study "Swiss Film Funding in Transition", which was commissioned by the BAK 2023. It shows the extent to which digitalization has changed production and exploitation processes. The new measures are intended to ensure that Swiss film funding remains up-to-date and supports the industry in the long term. Until the measures are adopted in fall 2025, the FOC will conduct a consultation with the film industry as usual.

Industry information Film 24.1.25

Wirz and BKW focus on sustainable solutions

In their latest snow sports campaign, BKW and Wirz feature Swiss professional skiers on camera and promote more sustainable snow sports using solar, e-mobility, and lighting solutions—all with a healthy dose of humor.

BKW has been a premium and sustainability partner of Swiss-Ski since 2015 and supports the 300 or so athletes, the association and the local organizers financially and with expertise.

Engagement and know-how mediate

The current campaign for more sustainability in Snow sports emphasizes BKW's role as an active supporter of snow sports. and links Swiss ski stars with innovative BKW products and solutions from the energy, building and infrastructure sectors. It is humorously staged that these are, however, only suitable for certain situations.

The campaign features Swiss skiing pros Michelle Gisin, Alexis Monney, Daniel Yule, Ramon Zenhäusern and Marc Rochat. With a great deal of commitment and humor, they show that fortunately they only have to wear the BKW logo and not BKW's solutions for greater sustainability.

The campaign will be broadcast until the end of the season on TV, in print, online and on social media with targeted, channel-specific photo and moving image concepts.


Responsible at BKW: Martin Schweikert (Head of Group Communications), Michael Morgenthaler (Head of Brand Experience, Partnerships & Campaigns), Lukas Schmid (Project Manager Sponsoring & Events), Michèle Wildisen (Senior Communication Manager Brand Experience). Responsible at Wirz Group: Livio Dainese, Johannes Raggio, Matthias Fürst, Tim Lieberherr, Nico Schläpfer, Stephanie Ackermann, Erasmo Palomba, Yussef Serrat, Günther Prächt, Corinne Räber, Oliver Fäs. Production: Markenfilm (Film Production), Harald Zwart (Director), Joel Scheidegger (Executive Producer), Meret Früh (Producer), Tobias Dengler (DoP), DubDub Studios (Audio Postproduction), Gregor Rosenberger (Audio Engineer), Sandro Palomba (Producer), Olaf Gardeler (Postproduction Compositing / Online), Dominic Frei (Grading), Johannes Mink (Photographer).

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