Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is accelerating the launch of its next-generation artificial intelligence model, R2, after its previous release triggered a massive sell-off in global stock markets.
The Hangzhou-based company had initially planned to debut R2 in early May but is now pushing for an earlier release, according to sources familiar with the matter. The new model aims to enhance coding capabilities and expand AI reasoning beyond English, marking another step in DeepSeek’s rapid rise in the global AI landscape.
DeepSeek gained international attention in January when its R1 model, built using less-powerful Nvidia chips, rivaled AI systems developed by U.S. tech giants that had spent hundreds of billions of dollars on their models. The development has fueled concerns in Washington, where AI leadership has been identified as a national security priority.