The United States is witnessing a shift in its dominance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the unexpected rise of the Chinese startup DeepSeek posing a growing challenge. Founded by 40-year-old Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek has disrupted the global AI landscape, prompting significant attention. Liang, now regarded as a national hero in China, has even been invited to speak at an event in Beijing chaired by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Who is Liang Wenfeng?
Liang Wenfeng’s journey into the AI world began in hedge funds before founding DeepSeek in 2023. A former hedge fund manager, he established DeepSeek in an AI lab in Hangzhou, eastern China, and launched its groundbreaking R1 model, marking a major turning point in the industry. While Liang was largely unknown outside of China, his national speech in July 2023 propelled him into the spotlight. In his address, he presented his vision to challenge Western dominance in AI with affordable technology.

Liang’s early life and academic background
Originally from Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, Liang built a reputation in shipbuilding and engineering. With a strong foundation in mathematics, he pursued a degree in Artificial Intelligence at Zhejiang University. His academic background set the stage for his eventual pivot into the AI sector.

The leap to AI: High-Flyer hedge fund
In 2015, Liang co-founded the hedge fund High-Flyer, incorporating AI-driven trading strategies to predict market trends and inform investment decisions. Under his leadership, High-Flyer grew its assets tenfold in just four years, enabling Liang to shift focus toward AI. Before the US imposed AI chip restrictions on China, Liang secured over 10,000 NVIDIA graphics processing units. High-Flyer reinvested a significant portion of its profits into AI infrastructure, setting the groundwork for DeepSeek.

The bold move: Establishing DeepSeek
In May 2023, Liang took a bold step and launched DeepSeek, fully funded by High-Flyer. This move allowed DeepSeek to grow without the pressure of external investors, which contributed to its rapid development. Initially a side project, DeepSeek gained traction through Liang’s active involvement and his recruitment of top talent from Chinese universities.

Liang’s vision: Accessible AI for all
Liang’s core principle centers on making AI affordable and accessible. DeepSeek’s focus is not on pursuing excessive profits or selling at a loss, but on offering services that are affordable and available to a wide audience. This focus on accessibility sets DeepSeek apart from competitors, offering both innovation and fair pricing.