Liang Wenfeng, the 39-year-old founder of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, has quickly become a symbol of China’s tech ambitions. In just weeks, he has emerged as a key figure in the country’s efforts to counter U.S. export controls.
Until January 20, Liang maintained a low profile. That changed when he was invited to speak at a closed-door symposium hosted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. He was one of nine individuals chosen to share insights on government policy.
Liang has rarely spoken to the media. He gave two interviews to Chinese outlet Waves in 2022 and 2023 but has otherwise avoided the spotlight. DeepSeek declined recent interview requests.
At the symposium, Liang’s youthful appearance stood out among the grey-haired academics, officials, and corporate leaders. Photos and videos from Chinese broadcaster CCTV captured the moment.
His invitation underscores Beijing’s recognition of DeepSeek’s potential to reshape the global AI landscape in China’s favor.
Last week, DeepSeek launched a free AI assistant. The company claims it uses less data and operates at a fraction of the cost of existing services. This announcement triggered a selloff in global tech stocks.
In 2023, Baidu CEO Robin Li spoke at a similar event. Li, who introduced China’s first ChatGPT rival, argued that Chinese firms should focus on applying AI models commercially rather than replicating OpenAI’s success.
Under Liang’s leadership, DeepSeek has taken a different path. Instead of building apps, the company has focused on developing AI models that rival or surpass OpenAI’s. DeepSeek aims to create cutting-edge models for other companies to use in consumer and enterprise products.
This approach sets DeepSeek apart in China’s tech industry, which has historically adapted foreign innovations like smartphones and electric vehicles.
“China’s AI can’t keep following others,” Liang said in a July 2023 interview. “The real gap between China and the U.S. isn’t just one or two years. It’s the difference between originality and imitation.”
Liang believes China’s tech industry is at a crossroads. While it has the resources for groundbreaking research, it lacks confidence in pursuing fundamental innovation.
“In the past thirty years, China’s tech industry focused on making money, not innovation,” he said. “Innovation requires curiosity and a desire to create, not just business goals.”
DeepSeek has embraced open-source models, unlike its U.S. rival OpenAI. Open-source AI allows developers to freely use and modify the base code. Liang sees this as a cultural practice that fosters collaboration and progress.
“Even if OpenAI is closed-source, it can’t stop others from catching up,” he said. “Open-source gives a company soft power.”
Liang grew up in Guangdong, a province known for embracing market capitalism in the 1980s and 1990s. While many around him prioritized entrepreneurship, Liang leaned toward academics.
At 17, he enrolled at Zhejiang University, studying Electronics and Communication Engineering. He later earned a master’s degree in Information and Communication Engineering in 2010.
In 2015, Liang co-founded a quantitative hedge fund that used algorithms for trading. By 2021, the fund managed over 100 billion yuan ($13.79 billion). In April 2023, the fund announced a shift toward exploring Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). DeepSeek was established a month later.
AGI refers to autonomous systems that outperform humans in most economically valuable tasks.
DeepSeek’s team consists of graduates and PhDs from China’s top universities. Liang believes they are drawn to the company’s mission of solving AI’s toughest challenges.
“What attracts the best talent is solving the world’s hardest problems,” he said. “Our goal is still to achieve AGI.”
Liang Wenfeng and DeepSeek represent China’s push to lead in AI innovation. With open-source models and a focus on AGI, they aim to redefine the global tech order.
