Shows
Differentiated UnderstandingFrom Coal to Compute: China’s Grid Meets the AI Boom with David FishmanDavid Fishman is a Principal at The Lantau Group who advises on energy development, infrastructure, and electricity markets across East Asia, with a focus on China. His expertise spans power-sector policy and economics, grid development, project bankability, and transaction support, backed by regulatory and economic intelligence across China’s solar, wind, coal, nuclear, hydro, transmission, and power markets. He has led work on policy forecasting and tariffs, renewable-asset due diligence, China business matchmaking, and green-power procurement for multinationals.In our conversation, David unpacks how China’s decades-long planning underpins its energy transition and how renewables, storage, and grid...
2025-11-1847 min
Differentiated UnderstandingIs this the Cursor of China? Alibaba's Qoder team on agentic coding, Qwen, and international ambitions“So our philosophy here is to integrate the globally optimal models and give users the best results.” — Hang Yu, Head of Product at Qoder, AlibabaThis is the first episode in a series of founder and builder dispatches, featuring interviews with the people creating the future. If you are a founder, builder, or investor in this space and would like to share your story, please reach out.Today, I am joined by two guests from the Qoder team at Alibaba: Hang Yu, Head of Product, and Christian Hu, Head of Global Marketing and Operat...
2025-11-1050 min
Differentiated UnderstandingE-Commerce Evolution: AI and Live Streaming in Retail, with former Alibaba executive Sharon Gai“Retail is simple. Retail is just how do you sell something, and make someone’s eye light up. AI or any technology you add to it, is just another way to do that,” — Sharon Gai, retail tech and AI expert, former Alibaba executive.Joining me today is Sharon Gai, an expert in AI and innovation, with a focus on retail. She was an executive at Alibaba, where she advised brands and heads of state in crafting their digital strategy with programmatic marketing and AI. In this conversation, Sharon shares her journey from wor...
2025-11-0455 min
Differentiated UnderstandingThe Visible Hand: China's Strategic Economic Planning with EIU Chim LeeJoining me today is Chim Lee, Senior Analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit. He works in EIU’s China and Asia teams, and is based in the company’s Beijing and Hong Kong offices.He leads EIU’s research on China’s advanced technologies, Climate change, Energy, Semiconductors, and Artificial intelligence, and also covers how China’s industrial policies link up with the broader diplomatic and macroeconomic dynamics.Our conversation starts with China’s newly announced 15th Five-Year Plan proposal, which reveals the country's next priority and how it may impact its economy, society, and trade relati...
2025-10-3047 min
Differentiated UnderstandingAI Plus: Understanding the Intersection of AI and Economic GrowthIn this conversation, I spoke with Tom Nunlist from policy consultancy Trivium, about China’s AI Plus plan and its implications for the economy and society. We discussed the role of digital infrastructure in AI adoption, the transformation of production relations, demographic challenges, and the government’s role in connecting academia and industry. The conversation also covers the complexities of navigating China’s regulatory landscape, municipal and provincial implementations of AI policies, and the measurement of AI’s economic impact. Tom shares insights on how MNCs can better align corporate strategies with government objectives during the AI g...
2025-10-1348 min
Differentiated UnderstandingChina vs. US: Tech Optimism vs. Doomism and Education System Differences with Natalia Cote-MunozJoining me today is Natalia Cote-Munoz, a policy strategist, writer, and International Strategy Forum (ISF) Fellow— a program by Schmidt Futures that supports rising leaders at the intersection of geopolitics, technology, and public service. Natalia has served in the U.S. State Department, leading foreign policy think tanks and crisis diplomacy roles. She is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and speaks English, Spanish, and Mandarin, among other languages.In this conversation, we discuss Natalia’s unique upbringing as a third-culture kid, her experiences in tech diplomacy, and the evolution of US-China relations in the tech sect...
2025-10-071h 00
Differentiated UnderstandingCapital and Distribution in AI, and the Rise of Neoclouds with Kevin ZhangKevin is an investor at a family office, where he leads AI investments across asset classes. His career has spanned roles as a venture capitalist, startup founder, and software engineer, with experience in both Silicon Valley and New York, before moving to Asia. He brings deep technical and product expertise across domains from machine learning to enterprise software. In his spare time, Kevin writes East Wind, which is focused on technology investing.In this conversation, Kevin Zhang shares his insights on the evolving landscape of AI investments, the implications of hyper-scaler capital expenditures, and the future of...
2025-10-0240 min
Differentiated UnderstandingChinese internet darlings, the decoupled VC sector, and open-source leaders, with Jing Yang, Asia Editor of The InformationIn this conversation, Jing Yang, Asia Bureau Chief of The Information, a former WSJ reporter, discusses the evolution of China's tech landscape over the past decade.We explore the corporate strategy and positioning differences between established tech giants like Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent and newer entrants like Pinduoduo and Shein. Jing also talks about her reporting on Shein and Temu and their attempts to be publicly listed in the West.The conversation delves into the regulatory challenges faced by these companies both domestically and internationally, and how that has led to a belief shared amongst...
2025-09-291h 00
Differentiated UnderstandingThe Rapid Evolution of China's Tech Sector & an Insider Look Into the AI Startup World with Wency ChenIn this episode, Wency delves into the details of her journey, from working at a leading Chinese-language tech publication to joining an international VC firm, and now writing about China’s AI and tech ecosystem for a global audience. Wency provides a holistic view of the different players from the LLM startups to the leaders in consumer applications and to the rising domestic Nvidia challengers. She is also someone who’s really on the ground and plugged in with the startup community in China, so she sheds light on the real hustle culture and dichotomy of “lying flat” vs. “involution...
2025-09-2552 min
Differentiated UnderstandingInvestment themes from China's internet era to AI era with Tech Buzz China Founder Rui MaFor long-term China tech investors and journalists, she needs no introduction. Rui Ma is a leading voice in the space, a trusted China internet analyst. She is the founder of TechBuzz China. She began her career in traditional finance and then early-stage investing. In recent years, she has advised AI companies and established herself as the founder of an AI school to prepare the next generation for the AI era.In this conversation, we discuss the evolution of the Chinese tech ecosystem and the current trends in AI investment - her bullish view on EVs and robotics...
2025-09-2351 min
Differentiated UnderstandingChina’s AI and Tech Diplomacy with Professor Brian WongDr. Brian Wong is a HKU-100 Assistant Professor in Philosophy at the University of Hong Kong. His research examines the ethics and dynamics of authoritarian regimes and their foreign policies, historical and colonial injustices, and the intersection of geopolitics, political and moral philosophy, and technology. At HKU, he serves as a Fellow at the Centre on Contemporary China and the World, sits on the Steering Committee for the Hong Kong Ethics Lab, and advises the Interdisciplinary Dynamics: Ethics, AI, and Society at the Institute of Data Science. A Rhodes Scholar and Kwok Scholar, Brian holds a DPhil in Politics...
2025-09-161h 04
Differentiated UnderstandingChina's Supply Chain Advantages' Impact on its AI and Tech Development with Cameron JohnsonToday we speak to Cameron Johnson, who delves into the complexities of global supply chains, particularly focusing on the dynamics between the US and China. We explore the implications of trade policies, the evolving role of Asian countries in manufacturing, and the intersection of AI and technology with supply chain management. Cameron shares insights from his extensive experience in the field, highlighting the multifaceted nature of supply chains and the importance of understanding the broader ecosystem that supports them. Furthermore, we discuss the intricate relationship between government regulations, robotics, and supply chains in China. And finally, Cameron shares his...
2025-09-1141 min
Differentiated UnderstandingChina vs. Silicon Valley: AI & Tech Culture with Jasmine SunWelcome to the first episode of Differentiated Understanding. Today we speak to Jasmine Sun, and we dive into everything from her recent trip to China, covering China as an ABC, how the capital in China vs. Silicon Valley shapes the markets, and talent flow.Every episode, I bring in a guest with a unique point of view on a critical matter, phenomenon, or business trend—someone who can help us see things differently.For more information on the podcast series, see here.See transcript below.[Subtitles may contain minor typos of na...
2025-09-091h 12
NüVoicesChina's Internet to AI Development with Grace ShaoThis week, Tiffany Ap speaks with Grace Shao on the causes and development of AI in China.In this episode, Grace Shao walks us through the divergent approaches to AI deployment in China and the US, the domestic AI talent in China and the future of robotics. Grace also talks about running her newsletter AI Proem while providing consulting to tech companies and raising a toddler while being 8 months pregnant on the podcast.
2025-08-2746 min
Analyse PodcastThe Truth About China's Generative AI Revolution Nobody Talks About with Grace Shao"China's approach is very pragmatic. People have been saying DeepSeek did it out of necessity. There's obviously a GPU constraint and hardware constraint in China, something they're working around. In many ways, the engineering genius and engineering innovation is what set DeepSeek apart. It challenged a global narrative around needing more GPUs and more money to get better AI. It was about throwing capital at the problem. It was a different approach because the capital ecosystem in China itself is very different. People talk about proof of concept - you have to prove your concept first in China to get...
2025-07-2852 min
The Front Row Podcast#40 - Grace Shao: Why China Is Winning In The New Age of AIGrace Shao is a Financial/tech journalist turned analyst based in Hong Kong. On her Substack, she writes about AI and its relationship with energy, big tech, and society. She can be found at: https://substack.com/@gshaoTIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Trailer & Intro01:30 Understanding the Chinese Internet Ecosystem 06:06 The Evolution of Chinese Entrepreneurs 08:21 China's Smartphone Revolution 10:45 The Rise of Super Apps in China 15:32 AI Adoption in China's Industrial Economy 19:16 US and China – Difference in AI 24:07 Comparative Advantages: US vs...
2025-06-091h 01
The MachinistWhy China's AI Strategy Just Might Work — With Grace Shao Podcast: Big Technology Podcast (LS 53 · TOP 0.5% what is this?)Episode: Why China's AI Strategy Just Might Work — With Grace ShaoPub date: 2025-04-16Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationGrace Shao is a Hong Kong-based writer and analyst, and author of AI Proem on Substack newsletter. She joins Big Technology Podcast to discuss China's rise in artificial intelligence, and whether (and how) it can be a global player. Tune in to hear how China's AI startups are rapidly productizing cutting-edge tech, why it keeps devel...
2025-05-081h 04
跨国串门儿计划#98. 美国视角下的DeepSeek现象：中国AI真的要领跑全球？📝 本期播客简介本期节目，我们克隆了 Big Technology Pocast，他们请到知名分析师 Grace Xiao，与 Big Technology 播客主理人 Alex Kantrowitz 深入探讨中国AI产业的最新发展。从 DeepSeek 现象出发，嘉宾详细剖析了中国AI崛起的战略布局、核心优势与独特文化，特别是新一代创业者的心态变化、开源文化的影响，以及在实体AI和机器人领域的领先地位。节目还探讨了国际化挑战如芯片管制，并分析了AI助手Manus等产品的现象级表现，以及杭州等区域创新中心的崛起。这是一场关于中国AI现状、趋势与未来可能性的深度对话。👨⚕️ 本期嘉宾Grace Xiao，驻香港分析师、作家，在 Substack 开设 AI 专业爱好者专栏 "AI Pro M"。Alex Kantrowitz，科技记者，Big Technology 播客主理人。🌟 精彩内容DeepSeek分水岭：DeepSeek的开源和免费策略彻底改变了中国AI社区对大模型商业模式的认知，被视为行业发展的关键转折点。消费级为王：中国AI发展路径独特，更侧重将AI能力集成到现有的消费级应用和超级应用中，利用庞大的用户基础和数据资源。实体AI优势：中国在实体AI和机器人领域拥有显著优势，得益于完整的制造业产业链、成熟的工艺和软硬件集成的能力。创业者新风貌：新一代中国AI创业者展现出更强的理想主义和使命感，追求技术突破和行业影响力，而非仅以盈利为导向。政府与文化助推：政府对AI产业的积极支持以及中国社会对新技术的快速接受和采纳，是AI在中国快速普及的重要驱动力。芯片挑战：芯片短缺和出口管制是中国AI发展面临的最直接和最大的挑战，影响着技术进步和全球化进程。🌐 播客信息补充翻译克隆自：Why China's AI Strategy Just Might Work — With Grace Shao本播客采用原有人声声线进行播客音频制作，也可能会有一些地方听起来怪怪的使用 AI 进行翻译，因此可能会有一些地方不通顺；如果有后续想要听中文版的其他外文播客，也欢迎联系微信：iEvenight
2025-04-1947 min
Big Technology PodcastWhy China's AI Strategy Just Might Work — With Grace ShaoGrace Shao is a Hong Kong-based writer and analyst, and author of AI Proem on Substack newsletter. She joins Big Technology Podcast to discuss China's rise in artificial intelligence, and whether (and how) it can be a global player. Tune in to hear how China's AI startups are rapidly productizing cutting-edge tech, why it keeps developing open-source models, and why it's surging in robotics. We also cover AI agents like Manus, chip shortages, and the entrepreneurial resurgence transforming Chinese tech culture. Hit play for an essential conversation on China’s AI ambitions and their global implications....
2025-04-161h 04
Futuristic LawyerChina's Position in AI & BigTechDisclaimer: This talk was recorded soon after the New Years. As we know, a lot has happened since then but learning about China’s tech - and AI ecosystem, remain as relevant as ever.Grace Shao is an independent tech and AI researcher and writer. She often writes about AI, technology, and corporate governance, contributing to Fortune, The Diplomat, EIU, and FT Chinese. Previously, as a full-time journalist, Grace reported on Asia tech and business for CNBC and CGTN. Her work has also been published in the SCMP, S&P Global Market Intelligence, Yahoo Finance, and USA To...
2025-02-1442 min
Preparing for AI: The AI Podcast for EverybodyBATTLE OF THE SYSTEMS: Geopolitics, 'China Shedding', Energy and AI, with Grace ShaoSend us a textDiscover the transformative power of AI and its profound societal implications with this week's guest, Grace Shao. A distinguished writer and researcher, Grace offers unparalleled insights into global AI infrastructure, unraveling how Chinese big tech firms influence geopolitics while reshaping the global market. Get ready to explore the intriguing phenomenon of "China shedding," where Chinese tech companies strategically rebrand and relocate, often to Singapore, to appeal to international audiences. Through Grace's expertise, we unravel the complexities of Chinese tech innovation and its critical role on the world stage.We journey through...
2025-01-061h 15