DeepSeek Harness Begins Beta Testing This Week, First Users Selected from Small Group Chats

The beta testing plan for DeepSeek's Claude Code is about to launch, with a project named "Harness" set to begin testing later this week. The first batch of users will be selected from small group chats, and those chosen will need to submit personal information, sign a "Non-Disclosure Agreement," and gain access to the product. Screenshots from the beta recruitment indicate that leaks will result in disqualification and affect future testing and collaboration opportunities. If the news is accurate, the official version of DeepSeek V4 and Harness will be announced soon. Previous reports suggested that the official release of DeepSeek V4 (V4 GA) might be delayed until mid-August, with V4 expected to be available about 1 to 2 weeks after the closed testing of Harness, potentially between August 10 and 20. By then, next-generation models such as GPT-6, Claude Fable 5.1, and GLM-5.5 may have already entered the market, posing stronger competition for DeepSeek V4.