While fireworks lit up skies during China's Lunar New Year, another explosion rocked global tech circles: the rise of DeepSeek. The two-year-old AI startup has become an unlikely disruptor with its open-source DeepSeek R1 model, challenging industry giants while delivering comparable performance at a fraction of traditional training costs.
Analysts note DeepSeek’s timing mirrors last year's viral debut of OpenAI’s Sora during the same holiday period. But where others prioritize proprietary systems, DeepSeek’s radical openness stands out. “Open-source isn’t just code – it’s cultural currency,” founder Liang Wenfeng told CGTN, explaining how freely sharing technology attracts elite talent and drives innovation cycles faster than closed systems.
The strategy appears effective: Global cloud providers now scramble to integrate DeepSeek’s models, while even NVIDIA’s stock felt tremors from the development. More intriguing is the introspection this has sparked among China’s tech titans – why didn’t their billion-dollar R&D budgets produce this breakthrough?
Liang’s background offers clues. The former quant trading entrepreneur built High-Flyer, a hedge fund run entirely by AI algorithms. This data-driven mindset now fuels DeepSeek’s technical philosophy: building ecosystems before monetization. “Moats aren’t permanent,” Liang notes. “Real advantage comes from teams that evolve faster.”
As the AI Action Summit approaches, all eyes will be on how DeepSeek’s approach influences global tech strategies. Its next challenge? Proving open innovation can outpace proprietary systems at scale.
Reference(s):
Catalyst DeepSeek: The Chinese AI startup disrupting the industry
cgtn.com
