DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng outlines AI strategy amid China-US competition

In a leaked three‑hour call with investors, DeepSeek founder and chief executive Liang Wenfeng discussed China’s strengths and weaknesses in the artificial‑intelligence race with the United States, noting that processing power is the primary bottleneck. The transcript was removed from online platforms shortly after publication, though it is unclear whether Chinese authorities ordered the removal.

Wenfeng also emphasized that DeepSeek prioritises the development of artificial general intelligence and open‑source models over short‑term profit. He said the company recently completed its first external funding round, valuing it at roughly $52 billion, and plans to construct its own large AI compute clusters, hoping to procure chips at reasonable prices. Earlier, DeepSeek’s low‑cost V3 and R1 models challenged U.S. market leaders despite export restrictions on advanced chips, though the firm is not currently listed on any blacklist.