U.S. grads increasingly apply to China's DeepSeek startup

Graduates from top U.S. universities like Harvard and Stanford are keen to work for a new Chinese AI startup called DeepSeek. This interest marks a significant change from previous years, when hiring engineers was tough, even from local Chinese schools. Victor Huang, co-founder of Manycore Tech Inc., mentioned that DeepSeek's rise this year has boosted its appeal. DeepSeek, alongside Manycore, has gained a reputation as one of the "Six Dragons" of Hangzhou, a city in eastern China known for tech innovation. The company's lower-cost AI model surprised many in the global market back in January. Since then, the tide has turned for Manycore, making it easier to attract talent. Huang said many top graduates from universities like Tsinghua and UCLA are now sending in their resumes. Despite geopolitical tensions affecting how Chinese companies market abroad, Manycore aims to expand globally. Huang noted that the demand for AI talent is high, especially in machine learning and robotics. To keep up, his company plans to hire almost 100 engineers who are skilled in these new AI technologies. Many applicants for jobs at Chinese startups may be Chinese students who prefer working in China due to uncertain immigration policies in the U.S. This trend includes experienced engineers who have previously left Silicon Valley jobs to return home. Huang himself has a background that includes a master’s degree from an American university. Being recognized as one of the "Six Dragons" has also made it easier for Manycore to connect with customers. Huang pointed out that there is now a greater willingness from clients to explore their solutions.