DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company funded by the hedge fund High-Flyer. It is known for its focus on fundamental research and the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), rather than immediate commercial applications. DeepSeek prioritizes making its training results and models publicly available at low cost, and has an open, independent approach. It is also known for efficient resource use in model training, unconventional hiring practices, and a unique organizational culture without KPIs. DeepSeek aims to democratize AI access and compete with major tech companies.