Chinese artificial intelligence stocks rallied on Wednesday after reports suggested that DeepSeek could launch an initial public offering later this year.
The news strengthened investor interest in China’s fast-growing AI sector and pushed several related shares sharply higher.
Chinese AI Stocks Jump on DeepSeek IPO Report
Zhipu AI, which trades as Knowledge Atlas Tech Joint Stock, gained almost 9%.
Meanwhile, MiniMax Group surged nearly 15% as investors reacted to the possibility of a DeepSeek IPO.
Zhipu AI, MiniMax and DeepSeek are widely considered part of China’s so-called “AI Tigers.” This group includes several startups viewed as leaders in the country’s artificial intelligence industry.
DeepSeek Remains China’s Most Prominent AI Startup
DeepSeek is currently the best-known company among China’s leading AI startups.
The company gained global attention in early 2025 after the launch of its R1 artificial intelligence model.
Since then, DeepSeek has released several upgrades and new products. In April, the company introduced its V4 family of AI models.
Recent reports indicated that DeepSeek V4 ranked among the strongest open-source artificial intelligence models. The platform has also recorded rising token usage through application programming interfaces.
This suggests that more developers and companies are integrating DeepSeek’s technology into their own software and services.
DeepSeek Could Seek a Mainland China Listing
According to a Bloomberg report, DeepSeek is preparing for a possible initial public offering in mainland China as early as this year.
The company is also reportedly seeking additional private funding at a valuation of at least $71 billion.
This potential valuation would represent a substantial increase from its previous funding round.
Only a few weeks earlier, DeepSeek reportedly raised $7 billion at a valuation of approximately $50 billion.
IPO Speculation Boosts China’s AI Sector
The DeepSeek IPO report improved investor sentiment toward Chinese artificial intelligence stocks.
Excitement surrounding AI development has already made several companies in the sector some of the strongest performers of 2026.
Investors appear increasingly confident that China’s technology companies could play a larger role in the global artificial intelligence market.
A successful DeepSeek listing could also increase attention on other AI startups and encourage further investment across the industry.
Zhipu AI Records Exceptional Gains
Zhipu AI has delivered one of the strongest stock-market performances in the sector.
The company listed in January and has climbed by more than 1,500% so far in 2026.
Its rapid rise reflects intense demand for companies linked to artificial intelligence and China’s technology expansion.
However, the scale of the rally may also raise concerns about high valuations and increased volatility.
MiniMax Shares Remain Below Their Peak
MiniMax has delivered a more mixed performance since its stock-market debut.
Its shares initially surged by more than three times their listing price. However, the stock later gave back much of those gains.
MiniMax is currently down around 25% year-to-date.
The difference between the performances of Zhipu AI and MiniMax shows that investor enthusiasm is not benefiting every Chinese AI company equally.
For now, DeepSeek’s possible IPO remains a major catalyst for the sector. Further details about its listing plans, funding round and valuation could continue to influence Chinese AI stocks in the months ahead.
