AI could erase jobs within a decade, warns DeepSeek researcher

Cybersecurity and labor-market concerns over artificial intelligence resurfaced in China after a senior researcher from DeepSeek warned that rapid advances could displace large numbers of workers within the next decade.

Speaking at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, Chen Deli of DeepSeek said he was “extremely positive” about the technology but “pessimistic” about its long-term social impact. 

He cautioned that job losses could accelerate over the next five to ten years and that within 10–20 years AI might “take over the rest of work,” urging technology companies to act as “defenders” to mitigate the risks. 

The appearance marked DeepSeek’s most prominent public engagement in months following its rise to global attention earlier this year. 

DeepSeek, founded in 2023 and backed by hedge fund High-Flyer, drew worldwide notice in January 2025 with a low-cost model that competed with leading U.S. systems, propelling the company to the forefront of China’s AI ambitions. 

The firm has since released upgrades—including V3.1 and V3.2-Exp—that emphasize compatibility with Chinese-made accelerators from Huawei and Cambricon, part of Beijing’s push to reduce reliance on foreign chips. 

Chinese state media reported that this year’s Wuzhen summit took place from 6 to 9 November. Coverage of Chen’s remarks by international outlets underscored growing anxiety among researchers and policymakers that agentic, more autonomous AI systems could intensify economic disruption unless safeguards keep pace.