An artificial intelligence lab based in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, has set Silicon Valley abuzz with the release of its state-of-the-art model. DeepSeek, founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, unveiled its R1 model on Monday, showcasing a groundbreaking approach to training large-scale reinforcement learning models without relying on supervised fine-tuning.
The breakthrough has drawn significant attention, with DeepSeek's app soaring to the top of the iPhone free app charts in both China and the U.S., surpassing established platforms like ChatGPT. This rapid ascent has ignited a heated debate in Silicon Valley about whether U.S. AI companies can maintain their technological advantage.
Critics describe DeepSeek's advancements as countering the U.S.'s attempts to curb China's high-tech ambitions. The discussion centers on the potential shift in the global AI landscape and the role of innovation in shaping future technologies.
Meanwhile, Liang Wenfeng has become a focal point of interest in China. He was recently invited to a symposium in Beijing where Chinese Premier Li Qiang sought insights from experts across various sectors on a draft government work report.
About Liang Wenfeng
Liang Wenfeng graduated from Zhejiang University with a degree in Artificial Intelligence. In 2016, he co-founded the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer, which quickly gained recognition for its innovative use of AI-driven trading strategies. By 2021, High-Flyer had fully integrated AI into its operations, utilizing machine learning models to predict market trends and make data-driven investment decisions.
In May 2023, Liang founded DeepSeek with the aim of advancing the field of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Unlike traditional for-profit ventures, DeepSeek was envisioned as a platform for long-term, fundamental research, where curiosity-driven exploration could drive meaningful advancements in AI.
DeepSeek's 'Long-Termism'
For Liang, DeepSeek represents a pursuit driven by deep curiosity and a commitment to foundational research. He acknowledges that basic research often yields low immediate returns, yet he is captivated by the challenge of exploring complex fields like finance and the potential of AGI. Liang's focus is on understanding the essence of human intelligence and the processes that underlie it, believing that such exploration is crucial despite the lack of immediate commercial incentives.
Liang has remained low-profile, granting few interviews. In conversations with China's tech media outlet Anyong, he shared insights into his philosophy and vision, emphasizing the importance of long-term thinking in technological innovation.
Reference(s):
Behind China's rising AI startup DeepSeek: Who is Liang Wenfeng?
cgtn.com
