In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), a new contender is making waves—DeepSeek, an AI lab based in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek has captured global attention with the release of its state-of-the-art AI model, trained at a fraction of the cost of mainstream models like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
DeepSeek’s breakthrough came last Monday when it unveiled its R1 model, accompanied by a detailed paper outlining a novel approach to training large-scale reinforcement learning (RL) models 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 United States, surpassing established players in the AI space.
The release of the R1 model has ignited a heated debate in Silicon Valley regarding whether better-resourced U.S. AI companies can maintain their technological lead. Many AI experts have criticized the U.S.'s attempts to curb China's high-tech ambitions, describing DeepSeek's achievement as a \"counterproductive\" result of such policies.
Who is Liang Wenfeng?
Despite his rising prominence, Liang Wenfeng remains a somewhat enigmatic figure. A graduate of Zhejiang University with a degree in Artificial Intelligence, Liang co-founded the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer in 2016. The fund quickly gained recognition for its innovative use of AI-driven trading strategies, fully integrating machine learning models to predict market trends and make data-driven investment decisions by 2021.
In May 2023, Liang founded DeepSeek with the ambitious goal of advancing the field of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Unlike traditional for-profit ventures, DeepSeek is envisioned as a platform for long-term, fundamental research, where curiosity-driven exploration fuels meaningful advancements in AI. \"Understanding the essence of human intelligence and the processes that underlie it is crucial,\" Liang has said, emphasizing the importance of foundational research over immediate commercial incentives.
A Vision for the Future
Liang's approach with DeepSeek reflects a philosophy of \"long-termism.\" He sees the lab not just as a company but as a side project or hobby driven by deep curiosity. His focus on complex fields like finance and AI demonstrates a commitment to exploring challenging domains where the potential for significant breakthroughs exists.
Last week, Liang's growing influence was highlighted when he was invited to a symposium in Beijing. Chinese Premier Li Qiang sought opinions from experts, entrepreneurs, and representatives across various sectors on a draft government work report. Liang's presence at such a high-level meeting underscores the impact his work with DeepSeek is having on China's technological landscape.
As DeepSeek continues to push the boundaries of AI research, the global community watches closely. Liang Wenfeng's vision and dedication to foundational research may well shape the future of AI, not just in China but around the world.
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Behind China's rising AI startup DeepSeek: Who is Liang Wenfeng?
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