An artificial intelligence lab based in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, has captured global attention with its innovative AI model that rivals mainstream platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost.
Founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek unveiled its R1 model last Monday, introducing a new approach to training large-scale reinforcement learning models without the need for supervised fine-tuning as an initial 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 competitors and igniting discussions about China's growing role in AI innovation.
The rapid success of DeepSeek has sparked debates in Silicon Valley about the sustainability of technological advantages held by well-resourced U.S. AI companies, including Meta and OpenAI.
Who is Liang Wenfeng?
A graduate of Zhejiang University with a degree in Artificial Intelligence, Liang Wenfeng co-founded the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer in 2016. The fund 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, 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 drives meaningful advancements in AI.
DeepSeek's 'Long-Termism'
For Liang, DeepSeek represents 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. His vision for DeepSeek is to contribute to the global AI community by pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Liang has maintained a low profile, granting interviews only to Anyong, a sub-brand of China's commercial tech media 36Kr, in 2023 and 2024. His dedication to long-term research over immediate commercial success sets him apart in the fast-paced world of technology.
As DeepSeek continues to make waves in the AI industry, the world watches to see how Liang Wenfeng's vision will influence the future of artificial intelligence and China's role in global technological innovation.
Reference(s):
Behind China's rising AI startup DeepSeek: Who is Liang Wenfeng?
cgtn.com
