By Micah Jonah
January 9, 2026
Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is preparing to launch a new generation AI model with a strong focus on coding capabilities, according to a report by The Information.
The model, known internally as DeepSeek V4, is expected to be released in mid February. People familiar with the project say internal testing by company employees indicates the model performs strongly in software development tasks, may rival or surpass established AI systems from leading global competitors in coding related use cases.
The report also notes that V4 shows significant improvement in handling extremely long and complex coding prompts. This capability could give developers an advantage when working on large scale or sophisticated software projects that require sustained context and detailed instructions.
DeepSeek, which is based in Hangzhou, has rapidly gained attention as part of China’s broader push to strengthen its domestic artificial intelligence ecosystem, reduce reliance on foreign technology, including advanced chips. The company previously drew international interest after its earlier models received praise from technology executive in Silicon Valley.
However, the reported launch comes amid continued scrutiny of Chinese AI firms in several countries, particularly over concerns related to data security and privacy practices. DeepSeek has previously acknowledged such concerns while maintaining that its systems meet required standards.
Reuters said it was unable to independently verify the details of the report, and DeepSeek did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
If released as planned, the V4 model could further intensify competition in the global AI race, especially in the fast growing market for developer focused artificial intelligence tools.
