Leak Fallout Delays DeepSeek Funding as Its Introverted CEO Faces Backlash

DeepSeek reportedly canceled its planned Hangzhou funding round after a leaked, unverified interview attributed to founder Liang Wenfeng circulated online, stirring investor skepticism about China’s AI progress and Nvidia’s role in the ecosystem. Bloomberg cites anonymous sources saying Liang is frustrated by the backlash, and while the deal may resume later, the company is also pursuing an IPO before year’s end.