At the Wuzhen Summit of the World Internet Conference (WIC) in China, Chen Deli, a senior researcher at the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, made a rare public appearance to deliver a serious warning about the social impact of artificial intelligence, urging tech companies to take on the role of "guardians of humanity." Chen Deli's remarks highlight the growing concerns within China's technology community regarding the potential social disruptions brought by artificial intelligence.

DeepSeek

Chen Deli stated during a panel discussion that artificial intelligence is currently in a "honeymoon period" where it enhances productivity but still requires human oversight. However, he predicted that within the next five to ten years, artificial intelligence may develop to the point of replacing many human jobs, leading to widespread unemployment and social tensions. He further pessimistically predicted that in 10 to 20 years, artificial intelligence may replace most remaining human jobs, posing a "great challenge" to society, at which point tech companies must play the role of "whistleblowers," helping to reshape the social structure.

This timeline and tone contrast sharply with the generally optimistic attitudes of Western AI leaders, reflecting a more cautious approach from Chinese innovators. Chen Deli emphasized that AI developers must prioritize safety and social well-being over uncontrolled development, calling on tech companies to reassess their development priorities as AI advances rapidly.

Since its establishment in early 2025, DeepSeek has remained low-profile but has quickly risen in prominence in the global AI arena, known for developing high-value AI models that are comparable to those of American counterparts, yet require significantly less chip performance than similar products in the US. As highlighted by media outlets such as the Business Times and Bloomberg, DeepSeek's achievements have placed it at the forefront of China's independent AI development and played a key role in advancing domestic chip technologies. Its free or low-cost applications have also caused significant market losses for American tech companies, even triggering fears in Silicon Valley that the democratization of low-budget, high-performance AI could worsen unemployment.

Chen Deli's warnings are not limited to China. With the popularity and power of DeepSeek's models, industries around the world face transformation. The company's technology has been trained on massive datasets and has already achieved partial automation in areas such as customs, manufacturing, and chemical regulation. Chen Deli's participation in this officially supported conference and his pessimistic remarks mark an official endorsement of a cautious attitude toward balancing innovation with social challenges.