DeepSeek Warns of AI Job Losses, Calls for Public Whistle-blowers
- tech360.tv
- Nov 14, 2025
- 2 min read
Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek recently made a rare public appearance at a state-backed industry event. There, a senior researcher reaffirmed the AI lab’s commitment to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI), despite its potentially dangerous impacts on society. AGI is a hypothetical AI system designed to match the cognitive capabilities of a well-educated adult, according to one definition.
Senior Researcher Chen Deli spoke during a panel discussion at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, eastern Zhejiang province. He joined the heads of five other companies, collectively known as China’s "six little dragons" of AI.
This marked the second time in recent months that the low-profile Hangzhou start-up had sent a representative to an industry event. DeepSeek’s head of AI governance, Wu Shaoqing, joined a panel on AI ethical guard rails at the Global Open-Source Innovation Meetup in Hangzhou earlier this year.
Representing DeepSeek founder and Chief Executive Officer Liang Wenfeng, Chen expressed optimism about the technology itself but pessimism about its overall societal impact. Liang has not appeared in public since a high-profile televised meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in February.
Chen stated that AI’s current limitations mean humans and machines are in a "honeymoon phase." He warned, however, that most jobs could eventually be automated by the technology.
“Humans will be completely freed from work in the end, which might sound good but will actually shake society to its core,” Chen said. He urged AI companies to act as whistle-blowers by warning the public about the jobs that would be made redundant first.
DeepSeek was founded in 2023 as an AI lab, spun out from quant fund High-Flyer. Its mission is the development of AGI.
Chen highlighted DeepSeek’s long-term focus as one of its biggest strengths, allowing it to avoid short-term trends. He reiterated the firm’s commitment to developing AGI, adding that it would not be alarmist to consider such systems dangerous to society.
Similar concerns were raised in a recent open letter that called for a ban on the development of superintelligent AI. This ban was proposed until there was strong public buy-in and broad scientific consensus that it could be done safely.
Hundreds of AI experts, policymakers, and celebrities, including Zhipu AI Chief Executive Officer Zhang Peng and Tsinghua University Professor Andrew Yao, signed the letter.
Chen noted that slowing down or stopping AI development was not realistic due to the profit incentives driving the sector. “You could even say the mark of success for this AI revolution is that it replaces the vast majority of human jobs,” Chen said.
Other Chinese companies, including Zhipu AI and Alibaba Group Holding, have also outlined plans to develop powerful AI systems. Alibaba Group Holding Chief Executive Officer Eddie Wu Yongming stated at the same conference that the company’s super AI cloud would meet the industry’s massive computing demand.
DeepSeek Senior Researcher Chen Deli warned that AI could automate most jobs, urging companies to act as whistle-blowers.
Chen stated that humans and machines are in a "honeymoon phase" but predicted society-shaking job losses as AI frees humans from work.
DeepSeek, founded in 2023, is committed to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is defined as AI matching adult cognitive capabilities.
Source: SCMP
