Liang Wenfeng: The Founder Shaping China's AI Future with DeepSeek
Liang Wenfeng, founder of DeepSeek, is challenging global AI dynamics with his cost-effective models and a commitment to open-source development.
Liang Wenfeng, the 39-year-old founder of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, has rapidly emerged as a key figure in China's technology industry, challenging global AI norms.
DeepSeek, launched in 2023, has gained attention for its cost-efficient AI models and open-source philosophy.
Liang’s rise to prominence was marked by his appearance at a closed-door symposium on January 20, 2025, hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, highlighting DeepSeek's potential role in China's ambition to reshape the global AI landscape.
Despite keeping a low public profile, Liang has given rare media interviews where he emphasized China's need for originality in AI development.
His philosophy is rooted in shifting from imitation to innovation, a perspective informed by his academic background and experience in China's quantitative hedge fund sector.
DeepSeek's strategy has focused on developing AI models like DeepSeek-V3, which rival U.S. counterparts such as OpenAI, with claims of being significantly cheaper to use.
Under Liang's leadership, DeepSeek has chosen to make all its models open-source, setting it apart from competitors like OpenAI, which maintains a closed-source model.
This approach reflects his belief in the power of open-source culture to accelerate progress in AI development.
DeepSeek’s success, which includes launching an AI assistant that has gained significant traction, highlights China’s growing role in AI innovation.
Liang's vision extends to the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), with DeepSeek positioned to push the boundaries of AI research.
His leadership of DeepSeek has caught the attention of Chinese officials and the tech community, reflecting both his personal ambition and China’s broader push to reduce reliance on U.S. technological dominance.
DeepSeek, launched in 2023, has gained attention for its cost-efficient AI models and open-source philosophy.
Liang’s rise to prominence was marked by his appearance at a closed-door symposium on January 20, 2025, hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, highlighting DeepSeek's potential role in China's ambition to reshape the global AI landscape.
Despite keeping a low public profile, Liang has given rare media interviews where he emphasized China's need for originality in AI development.
His philosophy is rooted in shifting from imitation to innovation, a perspective informed by his academic background and experience in China's quantitative hedge fund sector.
DeepSeek's strategy has focused on developing AI models like DeepSeek-V3, which rival U.S. counterparts such as OpenAI, with claims of being significantly cheaper to use.
Under Liang's leadership, DeepSeek has chosen to make all its models open-source, setting it apart from competitors like OpenAI, which maintains a closed-source model.
This approach reflects his belief in the power of open-source culture to accelerate progress in AI development.
DeepSeek’s success, which includes launching an AI assistant that has gained significant traction, highlights China’s growing role in AI innovation.
Liang's vision extends to the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), with DeepSeek positioned to push the boundaries of AI research.
His leadership of DeepSeek has caught the attention of Chinese officials and the tech community, reflecting both his personal ambition and China’s broader push to reduce reliance on U.S. technological dominance.
