Goodwill and Obsession: The Unconventional Philosophy Behind DeepSeek

In a recent discussion, DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng shed light on the core principles guiding the company's creation and operation. Departing from the standard startup narrative, DeepSeek's origin was not rooted in detailed business plans or clear profit targets. "Our initial motivation was quite simple," Liang stated. "It came from a sense of goodwill towards the world and a belief that what we're doing is valuable for humanity. This is fundamentally something that transcends monetary gain."

Vision-Driven, Not Rule-Managed

Liang believes that leading a company aimed at AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) relies not on rigid systems, but on a clear and compelling vision. "A vision is about how you act, not how you phrase it." He emphasized that DeepSeek is essentially an organization coalesced around a shared vision. "We possess no 'superpowers'—our funding isn't superior, and our team is made of ordinary people. What drives us forward is that common vision."

A Dual-Track, Flat Management Structure

DeepSeek employs a unique dual-line management approach:

  • Top-down vision alignment to ensure cohesive direction.
  • Bottom-up innovation emergence granting significant individual autonomy.

Concretely, the company has abandoned traditional KPI metrics. Liang expects that formal "work tasks" should occupy at most half of an employee's time. "The other half is completely free. Employees can autonomously decide what to explore and research. We believe genuine breakthroughs often emerge from this kind of unassigned freedom."

A Low-Barrier Research Culture: Ideas Over Resources

This freedom is particularly evident in research. At DeepSeek, the barrier to entry for research exploration is intentionally kept low. "Conducting research doesn't consume vast computational resources; it requires ideas above all," Liang explained. The company fosters an environment where "anyone can try, anyone can experiment." Who makes a breakthrough depends more on individual insight and creativity. This model shifts the core of innovation from resource allocation to the collision of ideas.

Through these unconventional practices, DeepSeek is attempting to build an organization centered on intrinsic motivation and shared belief, exploring a path to AGI that diverges sharply from mainstream Silicon Valley business logic.