In its first public appearance since becoming a global AI sensation, Chinese startup DeepSeek took the stage at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, where senior researcher Chen Deli delivered a sobering message: while AI may offer short-term benefits, its long-term impact on humanity could be deeply troubling.
Chen, speaking alongside executives from other top Chinese AI firms like Unitree and BrainCo — collectively dubbed the “six little dragons” of Chinese AI — expressed concern that AI could lead to widespread job losses within 5 to 10 years, and potentially displace most human labor within two decades.
“AI could be a great aid to humans in the short term,” Chen said, “but in the next 10–20 years, it could take over the rest.”
Despite DeepSeek’s meteoric rise and its open-source approach to AI development, Chen’s remarks struck a cautionary tone. He urged fellow tech leaders to act as “defenders of society”, warning that unchecked AI progress could exacerbate inequality and social disruption.
The comments come amid growing global scrutiny of AI’s societal implications, with governments and researchers debating how to balance innovation with ethical safeguards.
