Note: The article was written by Miziko Li and translated by Zinan Zhang.
Get ready for the annual insights from TechNode Content Team! The year 2023 can be considered a groundbreaking year in the technology field. As wrapping up this year, we gathered different insights from our content team. We’ll present nine Q&As, with timely updates every Wednesday and Friday in the following weeks!
Today, our Q&A comes from Miziko Li, Social Media Editor at TechNode. Miziko Mainly focuses on ConsumerTech and Dynamics of Major internet companies.
1. Which company has impressed you the most in 2023?
At the end of Nov, Pinduoduo saw its market value surpass Alibaba’s, becoming the largest Chinese company in terms of market capitalization on the U.S. stock market, marking a historic moment. As someone who loves shopping online, I usually buy daily necessities on Pinduoduo, which can essentially meet my therapeutic consumption needs (Not because I can’t afford anything on Taobao or Tmall, but because buying products on Pinduoduo has better value for money). Whether the price is low or high, Pinduoduo supports free shipping, and compared to other platforms, its return and refund services are the most user-friendly. From cross-border e-commerce to user innovation, I have transitioned from questioning Pinduoduo to understanding it and ultimately loving to use the platform.
2. Which company has surprised you the most in 2023?
Huawei. Despite facing various external pressures, Huawei has released numerous new products this year, spanning from wearable devices to smart homes and even automobiles. Huawei is actively building an intelligent world of interconnected devices. With the release of Huawei ADS 2.0, the new M5 model, a collaboration with SERES, entered the scene, and the subsequent release of the new M7 model led to a significant increase in SERES’s sales. Having experienced the vehicle, I also find the new M7 quite appealing! At the end of December, the launch of the M9, as the flagship product under the HarmonyOS Smart Travel division, is set to lead a new journey in driving. While Huawei doesn’t manufacture cars independently, it plays a crucial role in helping car manufacturers produce and sell high-quality vehicles.
3. Which industry professional/entrepreneur/startup founder has left the most profound impression on you in 2023?
Zhihui Jun. I’ve been a fan of watching Zhihui Jun’s videos on Bilibili. In February 2023, Zhihui Jun established his startup, AGIBOT, transitioning from a well-known tech influencer to a tech entrepreneur. The founding team managed to create and launch their first product within six months. In less than a year since its establishment, AGIBOT has completed five rounds of financing. In the A+++ round of financing completed in December, the funding amount exceeded 600 million yuan. It is reported that AGIBOT is currently undergoing a new round of financing, with a pre-investment valuation reaching 7 billion yuan. I believe he is someone with clear goals and extraordinary initiative. In his spare time, he can immerse himself in researching advanced hardcore technology for three to four months. The passion he demonstrates in his field is not only admirable but also unparalleled. He is undoubtedly a role model for us all.
4. What is the most memorable overseas event for you in 2023?
OpenAI experiences a major movement in leadership. In just five days, CEO Sam Altman was ousted by the board, and President Greg Brockman announced his resignation as the board chairman. Subsequently, both swiftly joined Microsoft’s new artificial intelligence research lab. Eventually, an agreement was tentatively reached between OpenAI and Sam Altman, leading to Sam Altman’s return as CEO of OpenAI. He is set to form a new board, and Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest investor, gains a non-voting board seat. Amid the excitement of 5G developments, concerns about AI safety continue to grow, reflecting the rapid evolution of AI technology.
5. If you were to recommend one significant industry trend for everyone to follow, what would it be?
Brand crossovers. At the end of the year, Xiaomi held a highly anticipated Xiaomi Car Technology Conference, unveiling the Xiaomi SU7. Huawei collaborated with SERES and Chery to create two models, while NIO launched the NIO Phone. In 2023, many internet giants have successfully ventured into new fields, marking a trend of diversification.
6. What industry buzzword have you encountered the most in 2023?
Certainly, it’s AIGC. The year 2023 is a year of AI breakthroughs. From the emergence of ChatGPT to the present, AIGC has become the hottest topic in the tech world. For instance, Google recently introduced its largest and most powerful LLM, Gemini, along with the Imagen 2 model. HeyGen launched an AI voice-changing product, enabling figures like Guo Degang to perform traditional Chinese stand-up comedy in English and Zhao Benshan to deliver skits in English, with voice and lip-sync matching so convincingly that it’s almost indistinguishable from reality. While providing entertainment, it has also raised concerns about technology and privacy.
For me, on a daily basis, I use ChatGPT to assist in office tasks, ranging from optimizing text, checking spelling errors, translating articles to providing solutions and content ideas. The advent of AIGC has significantly improved my work efficiency and quality.
7. Which phrase or sentence best summarizes your perspective on the field you’ve been following in 2023?
Nei Juan. ChatGPT is surging in popularity, leading to a “battle of a thousand models” as capital, industry giants, and startups all rush to enter the big model arena. Despite a sluggish demand on the consumer end in the smartphone market, major manufacturers are striving to bring forth new innovations. Professor Zhang Xuefeng even remarked at an event that the smartphone industry is more competitive than preparing for postgraduate exams or civil service exams. The electric vehicle (EV) market is also fiercely competitive, with China’s global leadership in EV. Independent brands are rising, and an influx of new models intensifies price wars. Despite the severity of internal competition, we also witness more innovations. Only through continuous innovation can we address more pain points and meet the ever-increasing demands of consumers.
8. What product/company/technology/industry are you most looking forward to next year?
Humanoid robots. As humanoid robot technology continues to develop, its application scenarios are becoming increasingly widespread, and it is expected to have profound implications in various fields in the future.
9. Do you believe AI has the potential to threaten humanity?
Currently, AI does not pose a threat to human. However, the threats posed by AI to humanity go beyond survival and encompass potential risks such as employment, legal issues, privacy, and security. With the rapid development of AI, an increasing number of countries and governmental organizations have established AI regulations or implemented stricter regulatory frameworks. While humans enjoy the convenience brought by artificial intelligence, it is crucial to avoid these potential threats. Many tech leaders have been warning us consistently that humanity will face risks from the development of AI. As AI evolves to become more autonomous and less constrained, there is a possibility that it could pose a threat to human survival in the future.
