DeepSeek Develops AI Agents to Challenge Anthropic Claude Code

DeepSeek is developing artificial intelligence agents designed to compete with Claude Code, a service created by Anthropic PBC. To drive this initiative, the Hangzhou-based company established a DeepSeek Harness Team, announcing the move via a verified WeChat account and posting job listings to recruit specialized staff.

The new team focuses on building software scaffolding, known as harnesses, which enable large language models to automate professional workflows and manage complex tasks. As part of this strategic push, DeepSeek updated its flagship V4 Pro model late Wednesday to improve its agentic capabilities.

These developments occur as rivalry intensifies between Chinese and U.S. developers. Both sides are racing to produce advanced and affordable AI tools tailored for the business automation market.