DeepSeek’s AI Surge Sparks Short-Selling Conspiracy Amid Market Disruptions

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is facing repeated website crashes and cybersecurity concerns, raising suspicions that its sudden rise was a strategic move to manipulate the market. On the Navellier Market Buzz podcast, Navellier & Associates suggested DeepSeek’s rapid ascent could be a ploy for short-selling, especially as AI stocks like NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) saw sharp declines.

The podcast noted DeepSeek’s surge in popularity coincided with the NFL playoffs, a major U.S. event, potentially diverting attention from market manipulation. Investment expert Louis Navellier questioned DeepSeek’s credibility, highlighting claims that it rivals OpenAI’s ChatGPT but has failed to function properly, fueling skepticism.

DeepSeek’s founder, Liang Wenfang, previously made his mark with High-Flyer, a successful quantitative hedge fund. His pivot to AI added to the intrigue, as China prohibits short-selling, unlike Wall Street, where traders profit from stock declines. This restriction raises concerns that DeepSeek’s media blitz was a calculated effort to drive AI stocks down for short-sellers’ gain.

While DeepSeek initially captivated the tech sector, its ongoing technical issues and the unusual timing of its rise have led to speculation about its true purpose. If these suspicions hold, it could represent one of the most sophisticated market manipulations in recent history.