Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is expected to release its next-generation model, V4, in mid-February, according to a report published on January 9 by The Information, citing people familiar with the matter, DKNews.kz reports.
The new model is said to place a strong emphasis on coding capabilities, an area that has become one of the most competitive and commercially valuable segments of the AI industry.
Strong Results in Internal Testing
According to the report, internal testing by DeepSeek engineers suggests that V4 could outperform rival models such as OpenAI’s GPT and Anthropic’s Claude on programming-related tasks. While the results have not yet been verified by independent benchmarks, the claims have already drawn attention across the AI community.
Why Coding Performance Matters
Coding ability has emerged as a key differentiator among large language models. Tools that can write, debug, and optimize code are in high demand among software developers, startups, and enterprise customers.
If DeepSeek’s claims hold up after release, V4 could position the company as a serious contender in the developer-focused AI market, an area currently dominated by US-based firms.
A Rising Challenger from China
DeepSeek has kept a relatively low public profile compared with industry leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic, but its reported progress highlights how quickly Chinese AI companies are closing the gap with Western competitors.
A strong showing from V4 would also underscore China’s growing capabilities in advanced AI model development, despite ongoing restrictions on access to high-end computing hardware.
What to Watch Next
Investors and developers alike will be watching closely for:
- the official release of DeepSeek V4
- independent benchmarks comparing it with GPT and Claude
- details on access, pricing, and deployment options
If the early signals are accurate, February could mark an important moment in the global race to build the most capable AI models.
