DeepSeek has launched its official V4 Pro model as it advances its expansion efforts
Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek officially launched its V4 Pro model on Thursday, seeking to reclaim its position against rapidly advancing domestic competitors while increasing its hiring, computing capacity, and fundraising initiatives.
DeepSeek announced that the V4-Pro-0813 significantly improves agent capabilities and is accessible via the API, APP, and web channels. The company announced plans to increase API pricing for its V4 Pro and V4 Flash models, as well as implement peak and off-peak rates.
The release will attract significant attention following DeepSeek’s more affordable V4 Flash model, which unexpectedly surpassed the April preview of V4 Pro in multiple independent tests. That was unexpected because Pro is intended to be the company’s more advanced product, indicating that DeepSeek had significantly enhanced its technology in the time between the preview release and the official launch.
DeepSeek emerged as one of China’s most scrutinized AI companies following the viral success of its R1 model in early 2025, prompting inquiries into the potential for developing powerful AI systems at significantly lower costs compared to U.S. competitors.
Its early lead has since faced challenges from a series of releases by Chinese competitors, including Moonshot AI, Zhipu AI, MiniMax, Alibaba, and ByteDance.
DeepSeek has encountered the challenging endeavor of transforming its prominence into a sustainable business. In July, Reuters reported that the company was preparing for a new fundraising round, aiming for a valuation of approximately $74 billion. This announcement came just weeks after the company secured around $7.4 billion in its initial outside financing round in June.
The fundraising marked a change for a company that had previously avoided external capital. It also highlights the increasing expenses associated with competing in AI, which necessitates substantial investments in computer chips, data centers, and specialized personnel.
DeepSeek has announced its intention to significantly increase staffing across various departments, including those focused on data center operations and AI agent teams. In July, Reuters reported that it had ramped up private hiring of chip-design engineers to create its own AI chip, a move that may lessen dependence on suppliers such as Nvidia and Huawei.
