China is buzzing with pride after homegrown tech startup DeepSeek made waves globally with its latest artificial intelligence model. The breakthrough has not only stirred conversations in Silicon Valley and Wall Street but also ignited celebrations across Chinese social media platforms.

Hashtags like “DeepSeek overturns US stocks” and “DeepSeek makes Meta panic” trended on Weibo, racking up millions of views. The company’s new model, DeepSeek R1, has even surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT on app store charts, marking a significant milestone for China’s tech ambitions.

At the heart of this success is DeepSeek’s founder, Liang Wenfeng, a visionary engineer who’s been quietly building a reputation for innovation. Known for hiring local talent and keeping his AI models open source, Liang’s approach has captured the imagination of many in China. His latest creation, DeepSeek R1, reportedly matches the capabilities of giants like GPT-4 and Google’s Gemini but at a fraction of the cost—less than $6 million to develop.

This achievement hasn’t gone unnoticed in the U.S. Tech investor Marc Andreessen called it a “Sputnik moment,” while former President Donald Trump labeled it a “wake-up call” for America. The rivalry between China and the U.S. in AI technology has intensified, with the U.S. restricting access to advanced chips that China needs for further AI development.

However, DeepSeek’s success comes with its own set of challenges. Analysts point out that the AI model operates under China’s strict censorship laws, limiting its responses on sensitive topics. Despite this, many in China see this as a step forward in the global tech race.

Liang’s journey from a small-town upbringing to leading a groundbreaking tech company has inspired many. “No matter how powerful the old guard is, they may be overturned overnight,” one Weibo user commented, reflecting widespread optimism about China’s tech future.

As DeepSeek continues to grow, its focus remains on innovation and fostering a culture of originality. “We just need more concrete examples and processes,” Liang said in a recent interview, expressing hope for China’s ability to compete on the global stage.

With its small but skilled team, DeepSeek is proving that big ideas can come from unexpected places—and that China is ready to challenge the tech world’s status quo.