DeepSeek’s founder, Liang Wenfeng, is making waves in the artificial intelligence world with his unassuming leadership style and technical prowess. Despite appearing shy and reserved in meetings, Liang empowers young researchers and interns at DeepSeek to take on ambitious projects, often engaging in detailed discussions about AI model architecture and computing costs.
Liang’s approach to leadership is characterized by his willingness to engage with technical details and push his team to explore unconventional engineering paths. Employees at DeepSeek respectfully refer to him as ‘lǎo bǎn’ or ‘boss,’ a common term in Chinese business culture. Former staff members describe Liang as a ‘true nerd’ who sometimes demonstrates a deeper understanding of research than his own researchers.
The emergence of DeepSeek highlights the growth of China’s AI industry, which continues to thrive despite efforts by Washington to slow its progress. Liang’s meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier this year underscores the significance of DeepSeek’s achievements.
As China continues to make strides in AI, companies like DeepSeek are challenging US dominance in the field. Liang’s leadership and the company’s innovative approach are likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
