China’s DeepSeek makes rare public comment, calls for AI ‘whistle-blower’ on job losses


Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek made a rare appearance at a state-backed industry event on Friday as a senior researcher reaffirmed the AI lab’s commitment to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) despite its potentially “dangerous” impacts on society.

Chen Deli spoke during a panel discussion alongside the heads of five other companies collectively known as China’s “six little dragons” of AI at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, eastern Zhejiang province.

It marked the second time in recent months that the low-profile Hangzhou start-up had sent a representative to an industry event, after its head of AI governance, Wu Shaoqing, joined a panel on AI ethical guard rails at the Global Open-Source Innovation Meetup in Hangzhou in September.

Representing DeepSeek founder and CEO Liang Wenfeng, who has not appeared in public since a high-profile televised meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in February, Chen said he was optimistic about the technology itself but pessimistic about its overall impact on society.

One of DeepSeek’s biggest strengths is its “long-term focus” while avoiding short-term trends, according to a top researcher at the start-up. Photo: DPA
One of DeepSeek’s biggest strengths is its “long-term focus” while avoiding short-term trends, according to a top researcher at the start-up. Photo: DPA

Chen said AI’s current limitations mean humans and machines are in a “honeymoon phase”, but warned that most jobs could eventually be automated.

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