DeepSeek builds its own AI chip for faster thinking

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, is reportedly working on its own AI chip for reasoning tasks, aiming to reduce reliance on Nvidia and Huawei. The project started about a year ago and is still early. DeepSeek is talking to chip designers, foundries, and memory makers, and has been quietly hiring chip engineers without posting job ads publicly. Analysts say Nvidia's China market share is already near zero due to export controls, and DeepSeek's chip likely won't affect Nvidia unless it gets access to advanced manufacturing. If successful, DeepSeek will enter the semiconductor space and challenge Chinese tech giants like Huawei.