DeepSeek Secretly Builds AI Chip, Specializing in Inference, Project Started a Year Ago with No Public Recruitments
DeepSeek, the Chinese AI company known for its algorithmic models, is secretly developing its own AI chip to reduce dependence on Nvidia, according to a Reuters report. The chip is designed specifically for AI inference, not training, and the project began approximately a year ago. Currently in early stages, DeepSeek is reportedly in discussions with chip design firms, foundries, and memory suppliers.
The company, historically focused on algorithmic efficiency, has been discreetly hiring chip design engineers without public job postings. This move aligns with a global trend where major AI model companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are also pursuing custom chip development. DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng previously highlighted chip shortages as a challenge. While the company initially trained models on Nvidia H800s and later adapted to Huawei's Ascend chips, it now seeks greater control over its hardware foundation.
Designing a competitive AI chip is a significant challenge, requiring years and substantial investment with no guarantee of success. However, DeepSeek's efforts are backed by a recent major funding round of approximately 51 billion RMB (about $7.4 billion) raised in June 2026. The funds are designated for expanding data centers based on domestic chips, developing proprietary AI chips, and recruiting top global talent. Infrastructure plans are also advancing, with job postings for data center design engineers, including projects in locations like Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia.
The company remains characteristically low-key, with sources speaking anonymously and no official comment from DeepSeek itself. Nevertheless, this initiative marks a strategic expansion from software algorithms into the hardware layer that powers its AI systems.
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