{"slug": "deepseek-publicises-efforts-to-challenge-rivals-like-anthropic", "title": "DeepSeek publicises efforts to challenge rivals like Anthropic", "summary": "DeepSeek has launched a WeChat account for its new 'DeepSeek Harness Team' and posted job listings to build AI agents that compete with Anthropic's Claude Code, according to a Bloomberg report. The Hangzhou-based AI startup also updated its flagship V4 Pro model with better agentic capabilities on Wednesday, Aug 12, intensifying the rivalry with US developers in the AI agent market.", "body_md": "# DeepSeek publicises efforts to challenge rivals like Anthropic\n\nIt is recruiting for a new team that helps build AI agents that take on services like Claude code\n\n[BEIJING] DeepSeek has set up an official social media account and posted job listings for a new team focused on helping develop artificial intelligence agents that can take on services like Anthropic’s popular Claude code.\n\nThe Hangzhou-based company has created an account for its “DeepSeek Harness Team” on WeChat, China’s super-app operated by Tencent Holdings.\n\nThe account belongs to a Beijing-based entity, which Chinese corporate database Qichacha identifies as controlled by DeepSeek, and has been verified by Tencent.\n\nThe term harness refers to the software scaffolding that wraps around a large language model that enable AI agents to manage more complex tasks.\n\nAnthropic and other developers have designed harnesses to make their software better at streamlining coding and other work.\n\nDeepSeek is also recruiting several roles for its harness team.\n\nIn one job posting, the company said it is trying to turn its models into cutting-edge agentic products.\n\nSeparately, the AI startup updated its [flagship V4 Pro model](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/deepseek-unveils-flagship-ai-model-year-after-breakthrough) with better agentic capabilities late on Wednesday (Aug 12), according to an announcement in an official company chat channel on WeChat.\n\nChinese firms are locked in a [heated rivalry](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/us-and-chinas-ai-race-will-define-century) with US developers to build more advanced – and [affordable](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/technology/cheaper-ai-better-soaring-bills-are-reshaping-how-businesses-choose-models) – AI tools.\n\nSEE ALSO\n\nWhile OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot helped kick off the [global AI race](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/ai-race-sends-big-techs-capital-spending-stratospheric-high), many companies have since focused more on the lucrative emerging market for [AI agents](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/generative-agentic-ai-business-value-context-control-elastic) that can help [automate work](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/when-should-we-let-autonomous-ai-agent-do-work) for business professionals.\n\nDeepSeek did not respond to a request for comment after normal business hours.\n\nSeveral Chinese news outlets including Jiemian noted earlier on Wednesday that the company had created the new WeChat account. BLOOMBERG\n\nDecoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.\n\nShare with us your feedback on BT's products and services\n\n[TRENDING NOW](/pulse?ref=trending-now)\n\nHow BYD disrupted Singapore’s car market – and why the strategy is turning on itself\n\nVietnam seeks US$76 billion a year from capital markets to ease reliance on banks\n\nToo little, too late? Manila’s billion-dollar bid to ignite its sputtering EV industry\n\nTwo-thirds of Sentosa Cove resales in the red, with average loss topping S$1 million since 2023", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-publicises-efforts-to-challenge-rivals-like-anthropic", "canonical_source": "https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/deepseek-publicises-efforts-challenge-rivals-anthropic", "published_at": "2026-08-13 00:03:16+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-13 00:34:54.291462+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-agents", "ai-products", "large-language-models"], "entities": ["DeepSeek", "Anthropic", "Claude Code", "Tencent Holdings", "Qichacha", "WeChat", "Bloomberg", "Jiemian"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-publicises-efforts-to-challenge-rivals-like-anthropic", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-publicises-efforts-to-challenge-rivals-like-anthropic.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-publicises-efforts-to-challenge-rivals-like-anthropic.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/deepseek-publicises-efforts-to-challenge-rivals-like-anthropic.jsonld"}}