Exploring China's emerging AI firm DeepSeek: The story of Liang Wenfeng
Explore the story behind DeepSeek, an emerging AI startup in China, and learn about its founder, Liang Wenfeng. This article delves into his background, motivations, and vision for the future of the company.
TroibNews 
**Editor's Note:** In the world of artificial intelligence, Liang Wenfeng and his creation, DeepSeek, are gaining recognition as a "mysterious force from the East." CN is launching a series focused on AI to explore the power of innovation and its global influence. This article takes you behind the scenes to uncover the story of the man behind DeepSeek, his beliefs, and his journey.
An artificial intelligence laboratory located in Hangzhou, in east China's Zhejiang Province, has made waves in Silicon Valley with the introduction of its cutting-edge model, developed at a significantly lower cost compared to established systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT. This breakthrough has drawn criticism from various AI experts online, who label it as "counterproductive" to the U.S.'s efforts to limit China's advancements in high technology.
DeepSeek, founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, revealed its R1 model last Monday, accompanied by an extensive paper detailing the training of a large-scale reinforcement learning model without the need for supervised fine-tuning as an initial step.
Just days after the announcement, DeepSeek's app skyrocketed to the top of the iPhone free app charts in both China and the U.S., outpacing the once-monopolizing ChatGPT.
The launch of DeepSeek's R1 model has sparked intense discussions in Silicon Valley about whether better-funded U.S. AI companies, such as Meta and OpenAI, can continue to hold their technological lead.
Meanwhile, Liang has emerged as a prominent figure in discussions within China. Recently, he was invited to a symposium in Beijing, where Chinese Premier Li Qiang sought insights and recommendations from a range of experts, entrepreneurs, and representatives from various sectors—including education, science, culture, health, and sports—regarding a draft government work report.
**About Liang Wenfeng**
Liang Wenfeng holds a degree in Artificial Intelligence from Zhejiang University. He co-founded the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer in 2016, which quickly gained attention for its innovative AI-driven trading strategies. By 2021, High-Flyer had fully incorporated AI into its framework, employing machine learning models to forecast market trends and make informed investment choices.
In May 2023, Liang took a significant leap by establishing DeepSeek, focusing on AI research to advance the field of general artificial intelligence. In contrast to conventional for-profit enterprises, DeepSeek was conceived as a long-term research platform, where exploration driven by curiosity could lead to substantial advancements in AI.
Liang Wenfeng has kept a low profile, granting interviews exclusively to Anyong, a sub-brand of China's commercial tech media outlet 36Kr, during 2023 and 2024. The following are translated excerpts from these interviews, providing insight into his philosophy and vision.
**DeepSeek's 'Long-Termism'**
For Liang, DeepSeek represents more of a side project or personal interest, fueled by a profound curiosity and dedication to foundational research. He recognizes that basic research often results in minimal immediate financial returns; however, he is drawn to the challenge of delving into intricate fields like finance and the possibilities of artificial general intelligence. Liang’s emphasis is on grasping the core of human intelligence and the mechanisms that underpin it, a pursuit he considers vital despite the absence of immediate commercial benefits.
**Talent and Team Building**
According to DeepSeek's LinkedIn profile, the company comprises a team of fewer than 10 people. One team member was reportedly recruited by Xiaomi's Lei Jun to work on AI initiatives in December 2024. Liang is committed to identifying and nurturing talent from within China.
**On Innovation**
Liang asserts that genuine innovation demands freedom and space for experimentation. He points out that innovation frequently arises organically, rather than being structured or taught.
**On China's Role in AI Development**
Liang believes that China cannot perpetually remain a follower in AI. Throughout the interviews, he stresses the necessity for China to evolve from imitation to originality and to establish its own technological ecosystem.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
An artificial intelligence laboratory located in Hangzhou, in east China's Zhejiang Province, has made waves in Silicon Valley with the introduction of its cutting-edge model, developed at a significantly lower cost compared to established systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT. This breakthrough has drawn criticism from various AI experts online, who label it as "counterproductive" to the U.S.'s efforts to limit China's advancements in high technology.
DeepSeek, founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, revealed its R1 model last Monday, accompanied by an extensive paper detailing the training of a large-scale reinforcement learning model without the need for supervised fine-tuning as an initial step.
Just days after the announcement, DeepSeek's app skyrocketed to the top of the iPhone free app charts in both China and the U.S., outpacing the once-monopolizing ChatGPT.
The launch of DeepSeek's R1 model has sparked intense discussions in Silicon Valley about whether better-funded U.S. AI companies, such as Meta and OpenAI, can continue to hold their technological lead.
Meanwhile, Liang has emerged as a prominent figure in discussions within China. Recently, he was invited to a symposium in Beijing, where Chinese Premier Li Qiang sought insights and recommendations from a range of experts, entrepreneurs, and representatives from various sectors—including education, science, culture, health, and sports—regarding a draft government work report.
**About Liang Wenfeng**
Liang Wenfeng holds a degree in Artificial Intelligence from Zhejiang University. He co-founded the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer in 2016, which quickly gained attention for its innovative AI-driven trading strategies. By 2021, High-Flyer had fully incorporated AI into its framework, employing machine learning models to forecast market trends and make informed investment choices.
In May 2023, Liang took a significant leap by establishing DeepSeek, focusing on AI research to advance the field of general artificial intelligence. In contrast to conventional for-profit enterprises, DeepSeek was conceived as a long-term research platform, where exploration driven by curiosity could lead to substantial advancements in AI.
Liang Wenfeng has kept a low profile, granting interviews exclusively to Anyong, a sub-brand of China's commercial tech media outlet 36Kr, during 2023 and 2024. The following are translated excerpts from these interviews, providing insight into his philosophy and vision.
**DeepSeek's 'Long-Termism'**
For Liang, DeepSeek represents more of a side project or personal interest, fueled by a profound curiosity and dedication to foundational research. He recognizes that basic research often results in minimal immediate financial returns; however, he is drawn to the challenge of delving into intricate fields like finance and the possibilities of artificial general intelligence. Liang’s emphasis is on grasping the core of human intelligence and the mechanisms that underpin it, a pursuit he considers vital despite the absence of immediate commercial benefits.
**Talent and Team Building**
According to DeepSeek's LinkedIn profile, the company comprises a team of fewer than 10 people. One team member was reportedly recruited by Xiaomi's Lei Jun to work on AI initiatives in December 2024. Liang is committed to identifying and nurturing talent from within China.
**On Innovation**
Liang asserts that genuine innovation demands freedom and space for experimentation. He points out that innovation frequently arises organically, rather than being structured or taught.
**On China's Role in AI Development**
Liang believes that China cannot perpetually remain a follower in AI. Throughout the interviews, he stresses the necessity for China to evolve from imitation to originality and to establish its own technological ecosystem.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
