Specialty Network SLLC – Liang Wenfeng, the enigmatic 39-year-old founder of DeepSeek, has emerged as a leading figure in China’s AI industry. While relatively unknown until recently, Liang has become the face of China’s tech ambitions in just a few weeks. His innovative vision, coupled with his determination to push boundaries, is giving China a renewed sense of hope in its quest to overcome challenges posed by U.S. export restrictions.
DeepSeek is not just another tech startup—it represents a potential turning point in the global AI race. By focusing on originality, open-source innovation, and cutting-edge AI models, Liang is positioning his company to reshape the future of artificial intelligence.
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Until January 2025, Liang Wenfeng maintained a low profile. That changed when he was one of nine individuals invited to speak at a high-level symposium hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Unlike the usual gathering of seasoned academics and corporate leaders, Liang stood out not just for his youthful energy but for the significance of his presence.
The event highlighted the growing recognition of DeepSeek’s pivotal role in advancing China’s AI capabilities. It was a rare public acknowledgment of Liang’s contributions to the tech industry, which many now view as a critical force in challenging the dominance of U.S.-based AI firms like OpenAI.
Liang’s approach to AI development breaks away from the Chinese tech industry’s traditional playbook, which has often relied on imitating foreign innovations and scaling them domestically. In a 2024 interview with Waves, he described the challenge facing China’s AI sector:
“China’s AI cannot remain in a position of following forever. The real gap is not just one or two years; it’s the difference between originality and imitation.”
This philosophy underscores DeepSeek’s mission. Unlike competitors who focus on applying existing AI models for commercial use, DeepSeek prioritizes fundamental research and the creation of groundbreaking models. Liang believes that tackling the toughest problems in AI will enable China to close the innovation gap with the United States.
One of the most radical aspects of DeepSeek’s strategy is its commitment to open-source AI models. Unlike OpenAI, which operates as a closed-source entity, DeepSeek makes its base code available for developers worldwide to access and modify.
Liang views open-source not just as a business decision, but as a cultural practice that fosters collaboration and innovation.
“Open-source is like a cultural practice rather than a business practice. A company that does this will have soft power,” Liang said.
This approach aligns with Liang’s belief that innovation is driven by curiosity and a desire to create, not merely by financial incentives. By sharing its work with the global AI community, DeepSeek hopes to accelerate progress toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—autonomous systems capable of outperforming humans in most economically valuable tasks.
DeepSeek made headlines recently with the launch of a free AI assistant that operates using significantly less data and at a fraction of the cost compared to its competitors. This innovation triggered a selloff in global tech stocks, underscoring the potential of DeepSeek’s technology to disrupt the market.
Unlike traditional Chinese tech firms, which often focus on quick commercialization, DeepSeek is building a foundation for long-term success by prioritizing cutting-edge research. This strategy has earned the company a reputation as a serious contender in the race for AI dominance.
Liang’s ultimate goal for DeepSeek is to achieve AGI—a level of intelligence that surpasses human capabilities in most tasks. Achieving AGI would mark a monumental milestone in the AI industry and could redefine economic and technological power globally.
DeepSeek’s workforce, composed primarily of graduates and Ph.D. students from China’s top universities, is a testament to the company’s commitment to excellence. Liang believes that solving the world’s hardest problems is what attracts the best talent, and his team’s dedication reflects this ethos.
“What attracts the best talent is obviously the solving of the world’s hardest problems,” Liang said in an interview.
Liang’s journey began in Guangdong, a province known for its entrepreneurial spirit. Despite growing up in an environment that valued business over academics, Liang pursued a rigorous academic path.
At 17, he enrolled at Zhejiang University, one of China’s most prestigious institutions, where he studied Electronics and Communication Engineering. He later completed a master’s degree in Information and Communication Engineering in 2010.
In 2015, Liang co-founded a quantitative hedge fund that managed over 100 billion yuan ($13.79 billion) by 2021. However, his true passion lay in exploring the potential of AI. This led to the creation of DeepSeek in 2023, a company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence.
Liang has often spoken about the challenges facing China’s tech industry, particularly its lack of confidence in pursuing original R&D breakthroughs. He believes that innovation requires more than just capital—it demands a cultural shift toward curiosity and creativity.
“In the past thirty years, [China’s tech industry] has only emphasized making money and ignored innovation,” Liang remarked in an interview.
Under Liang’s leadership, DeepSeek is setting a new standard for what Chinese tech firms can achieve. By fostering a culture of innovation and openness, the company is challenging long-held assumptions about China’s role in the global AI ecosystem.
DeepSeek’s open-source philosophy stands in stark contrast to OpenAI’s closed approach. While OpenAI has achieved remarkable success, Liang believes that open collaboration is key to long-term progress.
This rivalry could reshape the AI landscape, with DeepSeek offering an alternative model for innovation. If successful, DeepSeek’s approach could democratize access to AI technology and accelerate advancements in the field.
Liang Wenfeng and DeepSeek represent a bold new chapter in the global AI race. By focusing on originality, open-source innovation, and long-term goals like AGI, Liang is challenging the status quo and positioning China as a leader in the field.
As the world watches DeepSeek’s progress, one thing is clear: Liang’s vision has the potential to upend the AI industry and redefine the future of technology.
