The success of the Chinese “chatbot” DeepSeek has shaken the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Its previously discreet CEO, Liang Wenfeng, is now seated alongside the Chinese political elite.
The launch of DeepSeek
The launch of DeepSeek took place on January 20, the same day as Donald Trump’s inauguration.
A drop in stocks of American AI giants
Its immediate success led to a significant drop in the stocks of several American AI giants, such as OpenAI, Nvidia, Meta, and SoftBank.
The most downloaded app
The free conversational agent has since become the most downloaded app on the App Store.
An audience with the Chinese Premier
Now regarded as a national hero, Liang Wenfeng was received in audience by Chinese Premier Li Qiang last week.
A meeting with the highest officials of China
He is the only AI leader who participated in the meeting with the highest officials of the country. After sharing his vision on his field of expertise, they stated that Beijing “will focus on advancements in key technologies and cutting-edge technologies.”
Impacting the world of technology
The head of Deepseek, a 40-year-old man, according to Chinese media, was not seeking fame or fortune, according to his colleagues, but he always hoped to impact the world of technology, dominated by the United States.
A Human-Level AI
Having the ambition to create a human-level AI, Mr. Wenfeng shared his plans with his colleagues early in his career, but faced their skepticism, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The academic journey of Liang Wenfeng
Mr. Wenfeng holds a bachelor’s degree in electronic information engineering and a master’s degree in information and communication engineering from the prestigious Zhejiang University. After graduation, the engineer ventured into finance.
The Creation of High-Flyer
In 2015, he created High-Flyer, a company that uses AI and algorithms to identify patterns likely to impact stock prices.
One of the leading hedge funds in China
The company has become one of the leading hedge funds in China, which would have allowed it to make a fortune.
The Creation of DeepSeek
He subsequently gathered his best employees and hired many young graduates from China’s top schools to create DeepSeek in 2023.