In just three years, DeepSeek has ascended from an obscure startup to a $60 billion AI powerhouse, rivaling ChatGPT with 173 million downloads since its public launch in January 2025. Yet, according to founder Liang Wenfeng, this meteoric rise was achieved without a single KPI or a culture of late-night shifts.
Research Requires Relaxation
In a discussion session with staff obtained by Tencent Technology, Liang revealed that DeepSeek generally avoids overtime. His philosophy is rooted in two principles: research necessitates a relaxed environment, and extreme focus requires doing fewer things. "If you push too hard, you can’t do research," Liang stated, emphasizing that a high-pressure environment is counterproductive to AI innovation.
The organizational structure at DeepSeek is notably unconventional for a multi-billion dollar firm:
- There is no rigid hierarchy or formal rulebook for employees.
- The company vision is driven by consensus and remains unwritten.
- Workers are given autonomy over 50% of their working day to pursue unallocated tasks.
- No monthly targets or performance metrics are imposed on the staff.
Defying the '996' Standard
DeepSeek’s approach stands as a stark outlier in China’s tech landscape, dominated by the "996" culture—working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Although the practice was outlawed in 2021, it remains a point of pride for major players like Alibaba and Tencent. Alibaba founder Jack Ma famously described the grind as a "great blessing" in 2019.
Ironically, as DeepSeek thrives on flexibility, Western venture capitalists are beginning to champion the 996 model. Figures in Silicon Valley and Europe have recently argued that "7 days a week" velocity is required to win the AI race. DeepSeek’s success challenges this narrative, suggesting that a lean, vision-oriented team of "ordinary people" can outperform the grind through focus rather than sheer hours.
