More than half of the 200 key researchers at the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek have been educated solely in China and are affiliated with institutions in the country, according to an analysis.
The Hoover Institution at Stanford University, a U.S. think tank, recently investigated and analyzed the schools and major careers of over 200 individuals listed in five papers published by DeepSeek from January 2024 to February 2025 in a report titled 'Talent Analysis of DeepSeek AI and Implications for U.S. Innovation.' During this period, a total of 232 researchers were involved in the papers, with 201 of them falling under the investigation due to having known affiliation data.
The analysis revealed that of the 201 individuals, 111 (54%) were educated only in China and were affiliated with research institutions in China. This indicates a lack of educational or career experience in the U.S. Approximately 90% of researchers, or 197 individuals (89%), had been affiliated with Chinese institutions at least once in the past or present. In contrast, only about one-fourth of the researchers, or 49 individuals (24.3%), had studied or built careers in the U.S.
Additionally, 171 individuals (85%) among the 201 were affiliated with Chinese institutions, while only 15 researchers (7%) currently had affiliations with U.S.-based institutions. Furthermore, the report evaluated that 31 individuals contributed to all five papers and referred to them as the 'core team.'
The report noted, 'This analysis provides evidence that China can cultivate world-class AI talent domestically without relying on Western expertise,' adding that 'it clearly shows the limited role of the U.S. in forming this group.'
It emphasized, 'The case of DeepSeek demonstrates a critical gap in U.S. technology policy, namely the collapse of human capital superiority,' stating that while export controls and investments in computing infrastructure are necessary, they are not sufficient, and that the U.S. cannot maintain a technological edge solely through regulation.
The report further highlighted, 'To win in the competition of the new era, we must focus on cultivating, attracting, and retaining the best talent both domestically and internationally.' It stressed that if DeepSeek is the signal flare, the future of technological leadership depends not only on faster chips or larger models but also on a strategic advantage in the global talent competition.