Hedge funds were already waiting to see if a U.S.-fostered, home-grown artificial intelligence boom would continue as China's new AI model was emerging to challenge U.S. dominance in the sector, a Goldman Sachs note said.

The 40-year-old founder of China's DeepSeek, an AI startup that has startled markets with its capacity to compete with industry leaders like OpenAI, kept a low profile as he built up a hedge fund that now manages a reported $8 billion in assets.

So-called systematic hedge funds — technology driven funds that use machines to make investment decisions — had a very profitable Monday as the market suffered from the turmoil from the launch of the DeepSeek Chinese AI chatbot.