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. This article delves into the power of innovation and its global impact, exploring 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 like OpenAI's ChatGPT, DeepSeek's breakthrough has drawn international attention. Some AI experts describe it as countering the U.S.'s attempts to curb China's high-tech ambitions.
DeepSeek, founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, unveiled its R1 model last Monday. The release was 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. The R1 model's success 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.
Liang Wenfeng's Journey
Liang Wenfeng graduated from Zhejiang University with a degree in Artificial Intelligence. He co-founded the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer in 2016, quickly gaining recognition for innovative 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—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. He believes that such exploration is crucial despite the lack of immediate commercial incentives. "DeepSeek is about pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve," Liang said in a rare interview. "It's not just about profit; it's about contributing to the future of technology."
A Global Impact
Last week, Liang was invited to a symposium in Beijing, where Chinese Premier Li Qiang sought opinions and suggestions from experts, entrepreneurs, and representatives across various sectors. The inclusion of Liang in such a high-profile event underscores the significance of DeepSeek's advancements in the global AI landscape.
DeepSeek's rise reflects a broader trend of innovation within China's tech industry. As startups like DeepSeek emerge, they challenge established players and contribute to a more competitive global market. For business professionals, investors, and academics, DeepSeek represents both an opportunity and a case study in rapid technological advancement.
As the debate over technological leadership continues, Liang Wenfeng and DeepSeek stand as symbols of China's growing influence in the AI sector. Their story resonates with a global audience eager to understand the shifts in innovation, investment, and the future of artificial intelligence.
Reference(s):
Behind China's rising AI startup DeepSeek: Who is Liang Wenfeng?
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