It seems that China highly values DeepSeek’s AI technology. So much so that the company’s key employees have been restricted from leaving the country. Recent reports have also shed light on the company’s future plans.
According to The Information, which cites anonymous sources, DeepSeek’s owner, the hedge fund High-Flyer, has confiscated the passports of some of its top employees. Sources claim that this measure was taken to prevent the leakage of confidential information that could potentially include commercial or even state secrets.
At the same time, the Chinese government is reportedly vetting DeepSeek’s potential investors. This development comes just weeks after authorities instructed AI researchers and entrepreneurs to avoid traveling to the United States.
DeepSeek’s Expansion and Focus on AGI
In addition to these restrictions, new information has emerged regarding DeepSeek’s growth strategy. As reported by the Financial Times, the company is actively working on developing two new AI models, the R2 and V4. Moreover, DeepSeek is moving toward creating artificial general intelligence (AGI).
The company’s founder and CEO, Chinese billionaire Liang Wenfeng, who also owns High-Flyer, is said to have a unique approach to growing the company—one that differs from many of its Western counterparts. “They are clearly not interested in scaling up right now. It is a rare situation where the founder is rich and dedicated enough to support a Navy Seal-style economy for their pursuit of AGI,” an industry insider shared with the Financial Times.
If DeepSeek’s future needs exceed the available data center capacity, the company plans to use third-party suppliers instead of investing in its own hardware, notes NIX Solutions. Additionally, the Chinese government is offering support by granting access to state-funded data centers. For now, DeepSeek’s revenue fully covers its operational costs.
What’s Next for DeepSeek
The Financial Times sources reveal that DeepSeek currently has about 160 employees—a stark contrast to OpenAI’s reported 2,000. The team is heavily focused on releasing the R2 and V4 models, with an expected launch in May. However, some insiders suggest development could be accelerated to sustain the company’s current momentum.
We’ll keep you updated as more details emerge about DeepSeek’s progress and China’s involvement in its expansion.