Liang Wenfeng

*Fortune* China released its “40 Under 40” list, recognizing promising young Chinese business leaders. DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng, previously known for High-Flyer Quant, tops the list, followed by leaders from Unitree Robotics, Pop Mart, Insta360, and Seres Group. DeepSeek’s emergence in the AI sector highlights China’s push for AI dominance. The list reflects a trend towards AI, healthcare, green technology, new consumerism, and intelligent manufacturing, mirroring China’s strategic priorities.

Rumors circulated about DeepSeek’s R2 model launching in August after the model itself hinted at a release window. However, sources close to DeepSeek denied these claims. While internal testing is underway, CEO Liang Wenfeng is reportedly unconvinced by the model’s performance. Furthermore, Nvidia chip restrictions may have impacted DeepSeek’s computing power, potentially leading to resource strain and a suboptimal user experience upon release.