According to DIGITIMES, DeepSeek researcher Chen Deli issued a stark warning at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen that AI could eventually replace most human labor within 10-20 years. He outlined a three-phase framework where companies must act as “preachers” ensuring open access in the short term (3-5 years), become “forewarners” alerting workers to reskilling needs in the medium term (5-10 years), and evolve into “protectors” of social order in the long term. The event gathered leading Chinese tech companies including Unitree Robotics, BrainCo, Game Science, ManyCore Tech, and DEEP Robotics to discuss AI trends. Chen acknowledged that slowing AI progress is unlikely because “everyone is trying to profit from it,” despite risks of social instability. His comments echo a recent open letter signed by over 100 AI experts calling for pause on superintelligent systems.
The uncomfortable truth about AI progress
Here’s the thing – Chen’s three-phase framework is basically the most honest assessment I’ve seen from someone actually building this technology. Most AI companies talk about “augmenting” human workers, but DeepSeek is straight-up saying what everyone’s thinking but too afraid to say out loud. The honeymoon period where AI helps us be more productive? That’s happening right now. But the medium-term reality where entire professions disappear? We’re already seeing early signs in creative fields, customer service, and even some programming roles.
What struck me most was Chen’s admission that nobody’s going to slow down because the profit motive is just too strong. It’s like watching a train heading toward a cliff while everyone’s arguing about who gets to drive. And honestly, can you blame companies? When your competitors are racing ahead, standing still means getting left behind.
This isn’t just a Chinese conversation
Chen’s warnings mirror exactly what Geoffrey Hinton, Yoshua Bengio, and other AI pioneers have been saying for months. There’s a growing consensus among the people actually building this technology that we’re heading into uncharted territory. The recent open letter signed by Chinese and international experts shows this isn’t a regional concern – it’s global.
But here’s where it gets interesting: DeepSeek is committed to open-source AI while simultaneously warning about these risks. That’s a fascinating contradiction. Do you make powerful technology freely available while predicting it could disrupt society? It’s like handing out matches while warning about fire hazards.
What this means for industrial technology
Looking at the companies at this conference – robotics firms, brain-computer interface developers, AI specialists – we’re talking about the complete transformation of how work gets done. The industrial sector is already seeing massive changes, and this acceleration is only going to continue. Companies that rely on human labor for manufacturing, logistics, and operations need to be planning their transition strategies now.
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So where does this leave us?
The most chilling part of Chen’s framework is that final stage where companies become “protectors” of social order. Think about that for a second – we’re potentially looking at a future where technology companies have to manage the social consequences of the very disruption they created. That’s a responsibility nobody signed up for, and frankly, I’m not sure any corporation is equipped to handle.
Chen’s right about one thing though – the genie’s out of the bottle. The question isn’t whether AI will transform work, but how quickly, and whether we can manage the transition without tearing society apart in the process. The companies building this technology are finally starting to acknowledge the scale of what they’re unleashing. Now we need to figure out what to do about it.
