Technological Innovation and Its Revelation of DeepSeek： An Analysis based on the Theory of the Adjacent Possible

ZHAO Jian; ZHAO Yun-yi

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Journal of Beijing Jiaotong University（Social Sciences Edition） ›› 2025, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (2) : 154-166.

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Technological Innovation and Its Revelation of DeepSeek： An Analysis based on the Theory of the Adjacent Possible

ZHAO Jian¹, ZHAO Yun-yi²

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Abstract

The technological innovation of DeepSeek demonstrates that the Theory of Adjacent Possible can serve not only as an explanatory framework for technological evolution but also as a guide for AI innovation. In an era of rapid technological iteration， it is more important to “explore the next adjacent possible” than to “catch up with existing paths”. When China’s human capital and technology levels approach those at the forefront of global technology， there is huge unpredictability and uncertainty in carrying out adjacent possible exploration， making it hardly possible for the government to promote technological progress with traditional catch-up strategies. In the international competition of the Fourth Industrial Revolution， which is full of unpredictability and uncertainty in the world’s cutting-edge technology development， China should focus its technological innovation strategy primarily on investing in human capital and building a “horse-race system” for scientific and technological evaluation and funding so as to gain a competitive edge.

Key words

adjacent possible / Large Language Model / algorithm innovation / human capital / institutional arrangement

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ZHAO Jian, ZHAO Yun-yi. Technological Innovation and Its Revelation of DeepSeek： An Analysis based on the Theory of the Adjacent Possible[J]. Journal of Beijing Jiaotong University（Social Sciences Edition）. 2025, 24(2): 154-166

References

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