Behind China's Rising AI Startup DeepSeek: Who Is Liang Wenfeng?
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 AI model, DeepSeek's R1. Trained at a fraction of the cost of mainstream models like OpenAI's ChatGPT, the breakthrough has sparked both excitement and controversy.
Founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek unveiled its R1 model last Monday, accompanied by a detailed paper outlining a novel approach to training large-scale reinforcement learning models without relying on supervised fine-tuning 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.
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. Many AI experts online have criticized the development, describing it as counterproductive to the U.S.'s attempts to curb China's high-tech ambitions.
Meanwhile, Liang Wenfeng has become a focal point of discussion in China. Last week, he was invited to a symposium in Beijing, where 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.
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, using machine learning models to predict market trends and make data-driven investment decisions.
In May 2023, Liang founded DeepSeek, aiming 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 a business venture—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.
\"The essence of intelligence is not just about processing power but about understanding and creativity,\" Liang has said in rare interviews. \"At DeepSeek, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve, not for immediate profit, but for the long-term advancement of humanity.\"
Liang has remained low-profile, granting interviews only to Anyong, a sub-brand of China's commercial tech media 36Kr, in 2023 and 2024. His philosophy emphasizes patience and the value of basic research in driving innovation.
The Global Impact
DeepSeek's rapid rise reflects the dynamic and influential role that China is playing in global AI development. As DeepSeek challenges industry giants and stimulates debate about technological leadership, it underscores the importance of innovation driven by long-term vision and foundational research.
For global readers, business professionals, academics, and the Asian diaspora, Liang Wenfeng's journey offers insights into the future of AI and the shifting landscape of technological innovation in Asia.
Reference(s):
Behind China's rising AI startup DeepSeek: Who is Liang Wenfeng?
cgtn.com
