DeepSeek: Discover 15 reasons why this Chinese AI is shaking up Silicon Valley

Just a few days after its launch, DeepSeek has already made history. The Chinese LLM has overtaken ChatGPT as the most downloaded AI app in the US, sending shockwaves through the tech industry. What makes it even more impressive? It was built for a fraction of the cost of its competitors…

Behind this disruptive technology is Liang Wenfeng, a former hedge fund manager turned AI innovator. His company, DeepSeek, is proving that China is no longer just a follower in artificial intelligence — it’s becoming a leader. With its unique approach, homegrown talent, and ability to work around US sanctions, DeepSeek is reshaping the AI landscape. Here are 15 key reasons why Silicon Valley should be paying attention.

• A meteoric rise
  DeepSeek, the Chinese AI chatbot, overtook ChatGPT as the most downloaded app in the US in just one week.
• Minimal budget, massive impact
  It reportedly cost only $5.6 million to develop — compared to OpenAI’s $5 billion in 2024.
• Who is liang wenfeng?
  Little known to the public, he’s a Chinese engineer and the founder of the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer.
• From finance to AI
  Liang built his fortune using AI for algorithmic trading before diving into large language models.
• Luring the best talent
  DeepSeek offers some of the highest salaries in China, hiring top AI PhDs from Tsinghua and Peking University.
• A company built on local expertise
  Unlike US tech giants, DeepSeek exclusively recruits researchers trained in China.
• A wake-up call for the US
  Donald Trump called DeepSeek’s rise a “wake-up call,” urging American companies to stay competitive.
• Navigating US chip sanctions
  With access to high-end NVIDIA chips restricted, DeepSeek had to innovate to achieve high performance with fewer resources.
• Doing more with less
  Its R1 model was trained on just 2,000 high-end chips, while Western AI models typically use around 16,000.
• China’s big AI ambitions
  The government sees DeepSeek as a key player in its push for tech independence.
• Breaking the imitation cycle
  Liang argues that China’s challenge isn’t just catching up with the US — it’s moving from imitation to true innovation.
• China is no longer just following
  DeepSeek isn’t playing catch-up anymore — it wants to lead the AI revolution.
• A serious challenge to big tech
  With its impressive performance and low costs, DeepSeek is making Silicon Valley nervous.
• Turning restrictions into opportunities
  US chip restrictions have forced Chinese AI firms to be more creative, and it’s paying off.
• The future of AI might be in China
  DeepSeek is a huge sign that China is ready to take the lead in AI.

Sirine Amrane