Caiwei Chen

Quantum physicists have shrunk and “de-censored” DeepSeek R1 They managed to cut the size of the AI reasoning model by more than half—and claim it can now answer politically sensitive questions once off limits in Chinese AI systems.

Spoke to Spanish company Multiverse Computing about how they used quantum physics-inspired methods to compress LLMs and interesting attempts to remove censorship from Chinese open-source models. www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/19/1...

Is Twitter down

The State of AI: Is China about to win the race? In this conversation, the FT’s John Thornhill and MIT Technology Review’s Caiwei Chen consider the battle between Silicon Valley and Beijing for technological supremacy.

The first instalment of our subscriber-only collaboration with the FT is live today. Our @caiwei.bsky.social speaks with John Thornhill about who is winning the AI race: China or Silicon Valley www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/03/1...

Chinese universities want students to use more AI, not less Unlike the West, where universities are still agonizing over how students use AI in their work, top universities in China are going all in.

Top Chinese universities are going all-in on AI, offering AI literacy modules, creating interdisciplinary AI degree programs, and offering locally hosted Deepseek for students. My latest:
www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/28/1...

A Chinese firm has just launched a constantly changing set of AI benchmarks Venture capital company Hongshan Capital Global originally developed it to assess its potential investments. Now it’s opening it up for anyone to use.

A Chinese venture capital firm originally developed this AI benchmark to assess its potential investments. Now it’s opening it up for anyone to use.

When AIs bargain, a less advanced agent could cost you New research shows that in AI-to-AI price negotiations, weaker models often lose out—costing users real money and raising concerns about growing digital inequality.

AI can get very persuasive these days, but what happens in a future where AI agents negotiate with each other? New research showed that when your agent sucks, you could lose money, and this could lead to a new kind of digital gap www.technologyreview.com/2025/06/17/1...

Manus has kick-started an AI agent boom in China A stampede of contenders and copycats has followed the launch of the general AI agent, but China’s internet restrictions have so far made it easier to cater to overseas users.

I wrote about China's AI agent boom and think it is at least mildly better than some other articles on this same topic. You should consider giving it a read. www.technologyreview.com/2025/06/05/1...

Meet Cathy Tie, Bride of “China’s Frankenstein” The creator of CRISPR babies is flirting again with infamy, this time through a mysterious alliance with an Internet-savvy entrepreneur.

China's notorious CRISPR scientist He Jiankui is released from jail and seeking a comeback, with weird tweets and a new marriage with internet savvy biotech entrepreneur Cathy Tie. We looked into what's going on:
www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/23/1...

Why Chinese manufacturers are going viral on TikTok They’re outraged by Trump’s tariffs and reaching out directly to US consumers.

To Chinese manufacturers enraged by the Trump-era tariffs, factory TikTok is not a vanity project but a full-blown genre that’s part protest, part marketing plan, part survival strategy. I wrote about this: www.technologyreview.com/2025/04/28/1...

does this mean that I, an ethically sourced Chinese good would suddenly cost twice to my American employer

How the Pentagon is adapting to China’s technological rise A conversation with Kathleen Hicks, the former deputy secretary of defense.

I had the pleasure to speak with former Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks about China, AI, drones, among other topics.

www.technologyreview.com/2025/04/07/1...

Trump’s tariffs will deliver a big blow to climate tech Broader economic anxieties and uncertainty over clean-energy subsidies are compounding industry fears.

The coming clean tech troubles:

Sweeping tariffs, an economic downturn & any loss of IRA subsidies will all be especially bad news for US climate progress.

Is Art Criticism Getting More Conservative, or Just More Burnt Out? What the writing of Dean Kissick, Jason Farago, and Sean Tatol says about our culture.

"What would surprise me right now are critics who articulate positive visions of the art world they want to see... But those kinds of articles are harder to write and receive less attention than sensationalized negativity."
www.artnews.com/art-in-ameri...

today is the day that i remembered my bluesky password so now I am logged in on my work laptop in the future I will be posting my articles and thoughts here,, excited

China’s tech infrastructure push went from ghost town to ghost cloud

thank you <3

How DeepSeek became a fortune teller for China’s youth AI-powered BaZi analysis has become the new oracle for a disillusioned generation seeking answers.

A new Chinese AI chatbot is making waves — DeepSeek claims it can predict the future. 🧐

AI Journalism Lab ‘24 alum Caiwei Chen (@caiwei.bsky.social) dives into what this means for China’s AI ambitions and beyond.

Dive into the article here ↓
www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/03/1...

I reviewed Manus!

How DeepSeek became a fortune teller for China’s youth AI-powered BaZi analysis has become the new oracle for a disillusioned generation seeking answers.

Deepseek has become the new oracle. Young people in China are reviving a traditional fortune-telling practice using the AI chatbot. They say BaZi's pattern-based structure is surprisingly compatible with a reasoning model. My latest @technologyreview.com: www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/03/1...

Very happy to have spoken with Emma Gometz at the Open Notebook about how as a journalist , I realistically use AI. An important and thorough tip sheet for reporters and newsroom executives alike:

Four Chinese AI startups to watch beyond DeepSeek These companies are all in a position to compete both within China and beyond.

"What began as a sprint has become a high-stakes marathon—China’s AI ambitions have never been higher."

More good stuff from @caiwei.bsky.social

www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/04/1...

YouTube video by Al Jazeera English How did China’s DeepSeek outsmart ChatGPT? | The Take

A new AI rival from China is shaking up Silicon Valley. DeepSeek matches ChatGPT’s power but was built faster and for a fraction of the cost.

How did they do it, and what comes next?

🎙 In this episode of ‘TheTake’,
I interview MIT Tech Review reporter @caiwei.bsky.social
youtu.be/XVjUoy-jkOo

Thank you @talkingbiznews.bsky.social for sparing me from spreading personal news here again — but this is real and please send tips to caiwei.chen@technologyreview.com!

Let’s connect! I am particularly interested in topics including AI, EVs, quantum computing, and semiconductors these days, and am always looking to learn. Shoot me a note at caiwei.chen@technologyreview.com or DM me. This year will be great 🫡

Tiffany Fong's big X payout raises eyebrows over frequent slurs, constant Musk replies She's racked in cash recently.

Wrote about the other side.. why elon musk and tiffany fong is all over your timeline, as well as why fong's rising prominence and massive payouts reflects everything wrong with the current X algorithm. www.dailydot.com/news/tiffany...

Bluesky's crack down on Palestine fundraisers raises concerns over app The site is pledging fixes.

As Bluesky grows, so do concerns about its moderation policies., as raised by community members like @mommunism.bsky.social. Palestinian users are navigating a system that’s flagging and removing accounts. I covered this for @dailydot.bsky.social: www.dailydot.com/debug/bluesk...

I've created a Starter Pack of Greater China media people.

Please share!

DM me if you'd like to be added.

go.bsky.app/JB4exUy

Are the 'lo-fi beats' you're chilling to on YouTube actually made with AI? Is your lo-fi secretly high-tech?

I spent a lot of late nights writing to lo-fi beats, so it only made sense to write about them. For @dailydot.bsky.social, I wrote about some new mysterious Youtube channels seems to be sharing bulk-produced AI music, and the "sunofication" of this entire genre. www.dailydot.com/debug/lo-fi-...

AI tutoring tablets are gaining ground in China, at a time when the Beijing’s tutoring crackdown meets Generative AI craze. I explored this trend:

illustration of momo the pink dinosaur

Great read! Why tens of thousands of Chinese social media users have adopted momo the pink dinosaur as their online alias. By @caiwei.bsky.social via @restofworld.org restofworld.org/2023/social-...