A DeepSeek engineer's viral post on talent, power, and humanity is a rare snapshot of work at China's frontier AI labs
In a post published on his public WeChat account, DeepSeek engineer Liu Shengyu said he expects AI to soon surpass him at the work he loves.
A DeepSeek engineer, Liu Shengyu, recently shared a blog post reflecting on the possibility that artificial intelligence could soon surpass his own abilities in the work he loves. His post offers a unique look into the fast-paced AI scene in China and the challenges faced by workers contending with AI's potential to render specialized skills obsolete.
Liu, who contributed to a key component of DeepSeek's latest model, admitted that AI has evolved from being a tool that aided him in tasks like searching documentation and spotting bugs to one capable of reading GPU code and optimizing software. Despite his pride in DeepSeek v4.1's success, he acknowledges that AI-written operators will likely match or surpass his own.
The engineer finds joy in creating efficient kernels, akin to a runner breaking their own record. However, he wonders why he continues to optimize kernels when he knows that better-performing kernels will enable faster model training and advancements, potentially leading to his replacement. He notes that rival companies will keep advancing, and he will be replaced regardless.
Liu emphasizes that while he hopes to avoid being overthrown by the AI revolution, if it's inevitable, he'd rather be the one to revolutionize himself. He questions if his readers share his sentiment about engaging with AI to protect their livelihood while lamenting the loss of the hands-on aspect of their work.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
