Prime Highlights
- DeepSeek’s new V3.1 model is designed to work with a special data format that could match China’s upcoming homegrown chips.
- The company aims to boost speed, efficiency, and flexibility in handling both complex and simple tasks.
Key Facts
- DeepSeek previously trained its V3 model on about 2,000 of Nvidia’s older chips, but stricter U.S. rules have since made it harder for China to access this hardware.
- China is pushing for chip independence, with companies like Huawei making progress to reduce reliance on foreign technology.
Key Background:
China’s DeepSeek has suggested that its newest model could soon work with locally made computer chips, marking progress in the country’s push to rely more on its own technology.
On its WeChat account, DeepSeek announced that the V3.1 model is designed to work with the “UE8M0 FP8” format, a way of processing data that helps speed up and improve the performance of large models. The company suggested this format is tailored for next-generation domestically built AI chips expected to launch soon.
The announcement comes at a time when Beijing is urging Chinese AI firms to rely less on U.S. technology and embrace local alternatives, particularly amid U.S. restrictions on advanced Nvidia chips. Although China’s local chipmakers, including Huawei, are still behind Nvidia in size and technology, they are making steady progress toward creating their own chip industry.
DeepSeek has already shaken up the tech world with its breakthroughs. Earlier this year, DeepSeek’s R1 reasoning model showed performance similar to leading Western companies.
The new model V3.1 is also equipped with several enhancements, e.g., speedier responses and a mixed system that can process both complex step-by-step questions and simpler questions. Starting September 6, DeepSeek will also adjust its API pricing to make the model more accessible for developers integrating it into applications and web platforms.
Industry analysts say that the lack of access to Nvidia’s latest H20 chips, currently under review in China, could provide opportunities for domestic chipmakers to gain traction. If DeepSeek’s latest step shows stronger support for upcoming Chinese chips, it could become an important moment in the global technology race.
As Beijing pushes for self-reliance in chips and companies like DeepSeek bring new innovations, China is aiming to become a stronger player in the global tech industry.
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