DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng says his company does not follow China’s widely discussed “996” work culture, in which employees are expected to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. In comments reported by Yahoo News and Fortune, Liang describes DeepSeek’s internal approach as avoiding overtime and not setting key performance indicators (KPIs). He characterizes the working environment as one where employees are not closely managed, saying “no one manages them,” according to the accounts. The reporting frames the remarks against a broader backdrop in which some technology companies in China have been associated with 996-style schedules, and in which interest in those practices has circulated internationally. Together, the sources present Liang’s statements as an alternative to the stereotype of tightly monitored, hours-extensive work in Chinese tech, but do not provide additional details on how work hours or performance targets are handled beyond Liang’s claims. The articles also do not independently verify the company’s day-to-day practices.