DeepSeek releases official V4 Pro model as it steps up expansion

Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek on Thursday formally released its ​official V4 Pro model, aiming ​to regain ground against fast-moving domestic rivals as it ​expands hiring, computing capacity and fundraising efforts.

DeepSeek said the V4-Pro-0813 greatly enhances agent capabilities and is available through the API, APP and Web channels. The company also said it ‌will raise API ⁠pricing ⁠for its V4 Pro and V4 Flash models and introduce peak and off-peak pricing.

The release ​will be closely watched after DeepSeek's cheaper V4 Flash model unexpectedly outperformed the April ​preview of V4 Pro in several independent tests. That was unusual because Pro is designed as the company's more capable product, suggesting DeepSeek had improved its ​technology rapidly between the preview release and the ⁠official launch.


DeepSeek ‌became one of China's most closely watched AI companies ​after its ​R1 model went viral in early 2025, raising questions about ⁠whether powerful AI systems could be built at much ​lower cost than those of U.S. rivals.

Its early lead ​has since been challenged by a string of releases from Chinese competitors including Moonshot AI, Zhipu AI, MiniMax, Alibaba and ByteDance.

DeepSeek has also faced the harder task of turning its prominence into a lasting business. Reuters reported in July that the company was planning a new fundraising round ‌at a valuation of about $74 billion, weeks after raising about $7.4 billion in its first outside financing round in June.

The fundraising ​marked a change ​for a company ⁠that had long avoided external capital. It also reflects the growing cost of competing in AI, which requires large investments in computer chips, data centres and ​specialised staff.

DeepSeek has said it aims to at least double staffing across departments, including data-centre and AI-agent teams. Reuters also reported in July that it had increased private hiring of chip-design engineers to develop its own AI chip, an effort that could reduce reliance on suppliers including Nvidia and Huawei.