What does Deepseek seek?

With minimal fanfare, Deepseek has sparked an AI tsunami, surging to become the real open-source AI leader in the AI revolution. The company has demonstrated results that rival, if not surpass, those of its competitors, delivering remarkable speed, efficiency, and performance at a fraction of the cost.

Deepseek, a relatively new company barely two years old, employs about 140 young and ambitious top talents in China, with core members graduating from the top universities in China. The founder, Mr. Liang Wenfeng, started his career in fintech and made his fortune in computer-based automatic financial trading. Deepseek's breakthrough has taken the world by surprise, catalyzing the AI tsunami we witness today.

So, what does Deepseek seek? For Liang and his young ambitious team, the primary goal may be to showcase their capabilities and technical excellence and establish their position in the AI revolution. Philosophically, through its spectacular and almost miraculous achievements, Deepseek has proven several important points: AI is not American Intelligence. AI is a form of artificial intelligence that should be developed by all and for all; AI is not a monopoly by one country to be weaponized in its dominance against other countries; Open-source development, rather than close-end development, is the better way and the highway for AI development, to maximize the benefits for all, and minimize and eliminate the "AI Divide" that exists between persons, companies, institutions, countries, cultures, and civilizations; AI at a lower cost, rather than at exorbitantly high costs, will make AI more affordable and sustainable for all, and is the better way and the high way; AI should focus more on algorithm breakthroughs and creative and dynamic interactions between humans and AI, rather than focusing more and more predominantly on machines and mechanical ways, may be the high way for the AI revolution.

The fact that most of Deepseek's talents are domestically educated and trained, without foreign education and work experience, will inspire tens of millions of domestically educated and trained professionals in China to take up all kinds of opportunities and challenges in the AI revolution.

The most effective way to advance the AI revolution is to promote AI for the collective benefit of all, rather than focusing on individual gain. Eventually, AI should serve as a public good for all mankind, enabling greater efficiency, productivity and creating greater prosperity and happiness for all; The huge achievements of Deepseek also underline the urgency and importance of international AI cooperation, and the risks and hazards of AI confrontations between major leading countries in the AI revolution. Left un-regulated, the rapid AI transformation and revolution could result in AI becoming the ultimate winner against the losing Homo sapiens as a whole, with AI gaining dominance over mankind. China, the United States, and other countries must collaborate to accelerate the AI revolution while ensuring that AI does not surpass human control.

Philosophically, humanity as a whole will be better served if the "Deepseek moment" inspires greater international cooperation in advancing the AI revolution.

The author is chair professor at Soochow University and vice-president of Center for China and Globalization. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.