AI in the Industry
This exclusive interview series explores real-world applications of AI in niche verticals to showcase how deeply digital transformation is redefining industries and work life.
Businesses are increasingly exploring AI innovations to enhance operations, improve customer experiences, and optimize workflows. Two prominent models—OpenAI and DeepSeek—are at the forefront of this revolution. While OpenAI has secured a dominant market position, DeepSeek is emerging with specialized strengths.
To delve deeper into AI’s business impact, we spoke with Sandro Lonardi, Chief Marketing Officer at SOAX, a leading provider of intelligent data collection solutions. SOAX offers tools like ethical proxy servers and Scraper APIs, integrating AI to stay competitive. With over 1,000 enterprise clients, SOAX helps companies gather public web data for applications such as market research and price monitoring.
Interview with Sandro Lonardi, CMO at SOAX
Q: How do AI models like DeepSeek and OpenAI shape the future of business and technology?
Lonardi: AI is transforming business operations by enhancing efficiency and scalability. At SOAX, it has improved three core areas:
- Data processing: We’ve transitioned from proxy services to offering full Data-as-a-Service. AI makes extraction faster and smarter.
- Infrastructure optimization: We’re planning to launch a distributed cloud in 2025 to support hybrid computing, addressing AI workload demands.
- Customer experience: AI-powered interfaces are becoming standard as we grow our enterprise base. Expectations for intelligent interaction are rising rapidly.
Q: Between DeepSeek and OpenAI, which is better for large-scale business use?
Lonardi: OpenAI leads in performance, particularly in multi-modal processing, which we rely on for versatile applications. DeepSeek, however, excels in code generation and technical reasoning, benefiting our R&D cycles.
For scalability, OpenAI again stands out with a mature, enterprise-ready infrastructure. Its developed ecosystem and extensive documentation ease implementation. DeepSeek’s offerings, while strong, often require custom development—useful for tailored solutions but less seamless to scale.
Q: Which model is better positioned to lead the AI industry in the next five years?
Lonardi: OpenAI is better positioned in the short term due to broad adoption and general capabilities. But the market is moving toward segmentation, not consolidation. Key factors will be:
- Customization for industry-specific needs
- Regulatory navigation capabilities
- Cost of ownership and operational integration
From our experience, ease of implementation and cost-effectiveness matter more than sophistication. The leading provider will be the one that offers practical, scalable solutions.
Q: Will DeepSeek pursue strategic partnerships like OpenAI’s collaboration with Meta?
Lonardi: Yes, partnerships are essential. At SOAX, they’ve helped us advance our Scraper APIs. I expect DeepSeek will follow suit to:
- Access specialized training data
- Enhance infrastructure
- Customize AI tools for specific industries
- Expand into new regional markets
As AI demands grow, going it alone will be unsustainable. Collaborations will be crucial for DeepSeek’s scalability and success.
Q: Which AI provider is better equipped for global expansion and regulatory challenges?
Lonardi: OpenAI has more experience with Western regulatory frameworks, which gives it an edge. Both providers, however, will face challenges in cross-border data governance.
At SOAX, we’re considering relocating from the UK to the US to better align with regulations and market access. Similarly, AI providers need to be flexible and adapt their deployment models to comply with local laws while maintaining high performance.
Q: Can you share specific examples of how AI has transformed SOAX operations?
Lonardi: Absolutely. OpenAI has delivered measurable results for us:
- Scraper API Development: AI automated website pattern detection, speeding up our support for new domains.
- Operational Efficiency: In 2024, AI tools helped cut costs by over 20% without compromising service.
- R&D Optimization: OpenAI helped us pivot from a high-cost AI Scraper project to more efficient API solutions.
These outcomes show AI’s value isn’t just in innovation—it’s about solving tangible business problems.
Q: Final thoughts on the future of AI?
Lonardi: The future of AI lies in specialization. At SOAX, our evolution from proxies to Data-as-a-Service, and now Intelligence-as-a-Service, reflects a deliberate strategy. Success doesn’t come from chasing trends but from aligning AI with clear business goals.
Organizations that strategically integrate AI into their workflows—not just adopt the flashiest tools—will emerge as true leaders.