DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng receives a hero’s welcome back home

DeepSeek founder Lian Wenfeng is being hailed as a hero within the southern Chinese language province of Guangdong, the place he grew up and reportedly returned for the Lunar New 12 months, joined by bodyguards.

Wenfeng—who, at 40, is already a billionaire attributable to his hedge fund, Excessive-Flyer—is outwardly much more beloved by locals following DeepSeek’s breakthrough analysis, which demonstrated that highly effective AI fashions might be constructed with fewer Nvidia chips. The discovering has important implications, notably in China, the place entry to the highest-end chips has been restricted.

Residents tell the Financial Times that Wenfeng was a “high scholar” who cherished comedian books, was a math whiz, and got here from a household of educators. In accordance with one native, Wenfeng additionally performed some soccer. “All of us grew up on this village,” the resident tells the FT. “We’re very pleased with him.”

Regardless of his rising star, Wenfeng has largely averted public consideration, irritating these wanting to be taught extra about him. Given the destiny of high-flying Chinese language CEOs like Jack Ma and Pony Ma — who confronted authorities scrutiny after gaining a bit of an excessive amount of visibility — don’t be stunned if Wenfeng chooses to remain within the background.