AI company DeepSeek is reportedly in discussions with Tencent and Alibaba for a $1.8 billion investment, valuing the firm at $20 billion, according to Caixin Magazine. The deal terms are not yet finalized, and no official confirmation has been made by the involved parties. The funding aims to address talent attrition issues, as several key researchers have recently left DeepSeek for other tech giants. This potential investment by Tencent and Alibaba could enhance their strategic positioning in the AI sector, following recent public listings by competitors Zhipu AI and MiniMax on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Moonshot AI's rapid valuation increase further underscores the competitive landscape in AI, highlighting the significance of DeepSeek's funding talks.