In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), a new name is capturing global attention: DeepSeek, an AI lab based in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. At the heart of this rising star is founder Liang Wenfeng, whose visionary approach is making waves both in China and Silicon Valley.
DeepSeek recently shook the AI industry by releasing its state-of-the-art R1 model. Unveiled last Monday, the model is trained at a fraction of the cost of mainstream counterparts like OpenAI's ChatGPT. This breakthrough has ignited debate among AI experts, some of whom view it as a challenge to efforts aimed at limiting the Chinese mainland's high-tech advancements.
Within days of its release, DeepSeek's app soared to the top of the iPhone free app charts in both China and the U.S., surpassing even ChatGPT. The success of the R1 model has raised questions about whether U.S. AI companies can maintain their technological edge.
Meet 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, gaining recognition for innovative AI-driven trading strategies. By 2021, High-Flyer had fully integrated AI into its operations, leveraging machine learning 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 is a platform for long-term, fundamental research, where curiosity-driven exploration fuels meaningful advancements in AI.
Liang maintains a low profile, granting interviews only to Anyong, a sub-brand of China's commercial tech media 36Kr, in 2023 and 2024. His philosophy centers on understanding the essence of human intelligence and the underlying processes, emphasizing the importance of foundational research despite low immediate returns.
DeepSeek's Commitment to 'Long-Termism'
For Liang, DeepSeek is more than a business—it's a passion project driven by deep curiosity. He believes that exploring complex fields like finance and AGI is crucial for genuine innovation. \"Basic research often yields low immediate returns,\" he acknowledges, \"but it's essential for understanding the essence of human intelligence.\"
His commitment to long-term, foundational research sets DeepSeek apart in an industry often focused on short-term gains. This approach has not only propelled the company to the forefront of AI innovation but also stirred conversations about the global AI landscape.
Recently, Liang's influence extended to the political sphere. 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 on a draft government work report. Liang's participation signifies recognition of his impact on the Chinese mainland's technological development.
As DeepSeek continues to rise, all eyes are on Liang Wenfeng and his team, who are challenging conventions and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in AI. Their journey reflects a broader narrative of innovation coming from the Chinese mainland, resonating with a global audience eager to understand and engage with Asia's dynamic role in global affairs.
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Behind China's rising AI startup DeepSeek: Who is Liang Wenfeng?
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