In the rapidly evolving realm of artificial intelligence, DeepSeek, an AI lab based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, is making significant waves both in China and internationally. Founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek recently unveiled its cutting-edge R1 model, which has quickly gained popularity by outperforming established models like OpenAI's ChatGPT while being developed at a fraction of the cost.
The release of the R1 model has stirred discussions in Silicon Valley, with experts debating whether well-funded U.S. AI companies such as Meta and OpenAI can sustain their technological lead. DeepSeek's app has surged to the top of the iPhone free app charts in both China and the U.S., signaling a strong market response and increasing interest in Asian advancements in AI technology.
Liang Wenfeng, a graduate of Zhejiang University with a degree in Artificial Intelligence, brings a unique background to the AI landscape. Before founding DeepSeek in May 2023, he co-founded the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer in 2016. High-Flyer gained recognition for its AI-driven trading strategies and by 2021 had fully integrated machine learning models to predict market trends and make data-driven investment decisions.
Unlike typical for-profit ventures, DeepSeek is envisioned as a platform for long-term, fundamental research aimed at advancing general artificial intelligence (AGI). Liang describes DeepSeek as a side project driven by deep curiosity and a commitment to foundational research. He focuses on understanding the essence of human intelligence and the underlying processes, believing that this exploration is crucial despite the lack of immediate commercial incentives.
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 positions DeepSeek as a key player in Asia’s dynamic and influential role in the global AI landscape.
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Behind China's rising AI startup DeepSeek: Who is Liang Wenfeng?
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