DeepSeek, a prominent AI company, is redefining its hiring strategy under CEO Liang Wenfeng’s leadership. Rather than prioritizing technical expertise, Liang values creativity, intellectual curiosity, and diverse viewpoints. His approach focuses on recruiting Generation Z, passionate readers, and humanities graduates, emphasizing that innovative thinking outweighs years of experience.
During a 2023 interview with Chinese media outlet 36Kr, Liang explained his approach. “When aiming for rapid results, it makes sense to hire those who already possess the necessary expertise,” he said. “However, for long-term ambitions, experience holds less significance. Core competencies, an inventive mindset, and an unwavering passion for the work are attributes I value above all else.”
His perspective challenges the industry norm, where companies like OpenAI and Meta favor candidates with strong technical backgrounds. Liang, however, sees open-mindedness and a willingness to explore unconventional solutions as more critical for addressing complex AI challenges.
Innovation thrives on fresh ideas, not experience
A key part of Liang’s hiring strategy is recruiting individuals from non-traditional backgrounds. While AI firms typically seek candidates with STEM degrees, DeepSeek actively hires those with a background in the humanities. Liang argues that critical thinkers with a deep understanding of human behavior and culture contribute valuable insights to AI development.