Behind China's Rising AI Startup DeepSeek: Who is Liang Wenfeng?
Editor's note: In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), Liang Wenfeng and his creation, DeepSeek, are emerging as a \"mysterious force from the East.\" KhabarAsia.com is producing a series on AI to delve into the power of innovation and its global impact. In this article, we take you behind the scenes to explore the man behind DeepSeek, his ideology, and his journey.
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, trained at a fraction of the cost of mainstream models such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. The breakthrough has drawn criticism from many AI experts online, who describe it as \"counterproductive\" to the U.S.'s attempt to curb China's high-tech ambitions.
DeepSeek, founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, unveiled its R1 model last Monday, accompanied by a detailed paper outlining how to train a large-scale reinforcement learning (RL) model without relying on supervised fine-tuning (SFT) as a preliminary step.
Within days, DeepSeek's app soared to the top of the iPhone free app charts in both China and the U.S., surpassing the once-dominant ChatGPT.
A New Contender in AI
The release of DeepSeek's R1 model has ignited a heated debate in Silicon Valley about whether better-resourced U.S. AI companies, including Meta and OpenAI, can maintain their technological advantage. As DeepSeek's technology continues to gain traction, industry experts are questioning the future landscape of global AI leadership.
Liang Wenfeng: The Man Behind the Curtain
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, using machine learning models to predict market trends and make data-driven investment decisions.
In May 2023, Liang took a bold step by founding DeepSeek, aiming at AI-focused research to advance 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 is more than just a business—it's a passion project driven by deep curiosity and a commitment to foundational research. He acknowledges that basic research often yields low immediate returns on investment, 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.
\"Understanding the fundamentals of intelligence is not just an academic exercise,\" Liang said in a rare interview with Anyong, a sub-brand of China's tech media 36Kr. \"It's about laying the groundwork for the next generation of technological breakthroughs.\"
A Rising Star on the Global Stage
Liang has become a focal point of discussion in China. Last week, he was invited to a symposium in Beijing, where the Chinese premier Li Qiang sought opinions and suggestions from experts, entrepreneurs, and representatives across various sectors—including education, science, culture, health, and sports—on a draft government work report.
His participation underscores the significance of his work and the increasing recognition of DeepSeek's potential impact on both national and global technological landscapes.
The Future of AI Innovation
As DeepSeek continues to challenge established tech giants, the question remains: Can innovation driven by curiosity and long-term vision redefine the global AI industry? Liang's journey suggests that embracing foundational research and long-termism may be key to unlocking unprecedented advancements in artificial intelligence.
With DeepSeek's rapid ascent and Liang's unwavering commitment to exploring the unknown, the world watches closely as a new chapter in AI innovation unfolds.
Reference(s):
Behind China's rising AI startup DeepSeek: Who is Liang Wenfeng?
cgtn.com
