Viola Zhou
@violazhou.bsky.social
Reporter at @restofworld.org
Covering tech, AI, and manufacturing
📍Hong Kong to New York
📧[email protected], DM open
Covering tech, AI, and manufacturing
📍Hong Kong to New York
📧[email protected], DM open
In our chat, Hu talked about creative writing as a way to escape the cog-in-the-machine daily life, being one of the luckiest writers, and his hope of building empathy between Chinese and Americans.
restofworld.org/2025/hu-anya...
restofworld.org/2025/hu-anya...
“I Deliver Parcels in Beijing”: Chinese literary sensation reaches U.S.
Hu Anyan, a former courier who wrote a best-selling book about the grueling job of delivering packages, discusses life, technology, and the future of work.
restofworld.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:19 PM
In our chat, Hu talked about creative writing as a way to escape the cog-in-the-machine daily life, being one of the luckiest writers, and his hope of building empathy between Chinese and Americans.
restofworld.org/2025/hu-anya...
restofworld.org/2025/hu-anya...
In this personal essay (my first for @restofworld.org), I explore patients’ relationship with AI, why chatbots can’t yet replace doctors, the caretaking burden on my one-child generation, and the tech industry that promises to ease our struggles.
restofworld.org/2025/ai-chat...
restofworld.org/2025/ai-chat...
My mom and Dr. DeepSeek
In China and around the world, the sick and lonely turn to AI.
restofworld.org
September 2, 2025 at 6:26 PM
In this personal essay (my first for @restofworld.org), I explore patients’ relationship with AI, why chatbots can’t yet replace doctors, the caretaking burden on my one-child generation, and the tech industry that promises to ease our struggles.
restofworld.org/2025/ai-chat...
restofworld.org/2025/ai-chat...
While talking to logistics people, I learned that many non-Chinese brands, including American ones, also use de minimis to ship into the US. They will have to pay high tariffs as long as the goods are made in China.
like this Canadian underwear store has to stop US shipping.
like this Canadian underwear store has to stop US shipping.
April 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
While talking to logistics people, I learned that many non-Chinese brands, including American ones, also use de minimis to ship into the US. They will have to pay high tariffs as long as the goods are made in China.
like this Canadian underwear store has to stop US shipping.
like this Canadian underwear store has to stop US shipping.
The Postal Inspection Service has stepped up crackdown, and discussed the issue with Chinese officials.
But parcels are still getting delivered for free, due to system loopholes and human errors. “It was not on us to do anything,” a postal worker told me.
restofworld.org/2025/temu-se...
But parcels are still getting delivered for free, due to system loopholes and human errors. “It was not on us to do anything,” a postal worker told me.
restofworld.org/2025/temu-se...
Chinese Temu sellers use fake U.S. postage labels to boost their profits
Some vendors have figured out how to maintain ultralow prices: Trick the U.S. postal service into delivering products for free.
restofworld.org
February 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The Postal Inspection Service has stepped up crackdown, and discussed the issue with Chinese officials.
But parcels are still getting delivered for free, due to system loopholes and human errors. “It was not on us to do anything,” a postal worker told me.
restofworld.org/2025/temu-se...
But parcels are still getting delivered for free, due to system loopholes and human errors. “It was not on us to do anything,” a postal worker told me.
restofworld.org/2025/temu-se...
On Xiaohongshu, vendors openly advertise fraudulent shipping labels, dubbed “tech labels” or “running-water labels.”
They sell those labels at as low as 60 cents, claiming they could be addressed to anywhere in the U.S.
They sell those labels at as low as 60 cents, claiming they could be addressed to anywhere in the U.S.
February 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
On Xiaohongshu, vendors openly advertise fraudulent shipping labels, dubbed “tech labels” or “running-water labels.”
They sell those labels at as low as 60 cents, claiming they could be addressed to anywhere in the U.S.
They sell those labels at as low as 60 cents, claiming they could be addressed to anywhere in the U.S.
One merchant told me he used fake labels in order to make his products cheaper on Temu – for the unbranded bargain goods, only ultra-low prices lead to high sales.
February 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
One merchant told me he used fake labels in order to make his products cheaper on Temu – for the unbranded bargain goods, only ultra-low prices lead to high sales.
Scholar Yu Zhou says these young researchers reminded her of China’s first, Silicon Valley-inspired internet startups in the early 2000s.
“They wanted to make internet available to China, the DeepSeek people want to make AI available to China.”
restofworld.org/2025/china-a... via @restofworld.org
“They wanted to make internet available to China, the DeepSeek people want to make AI available to China.”
restofworld.org/2025/china-a... via @restofworld.org
DeepSeek’s rise shows why China’s top AI talent is skipping Silicon Valley
Young Chinese engineers focus on homegrown innovation, drawn by fewer visa hurdles and the chance to build a future on their own terms.
restofworld.org
February 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Scholar Yu Zhou says these young researchers reminded her of China’s first, Silicon Valley-inspired internet startups in the early 2000s.
“They wanted to make internet available to China, the DeepSeek people want to make AI available to China.”
restofworld.org/2025/china-a... via @restofworld.org
“They wanted to make internet available to China, the DeepSeek people want to make AI available to China.”
restofworld.org/2025/china-a... via @restofworld.org
These AI talents come from Chinese universities, state-backed labs, and companies such as Beijing-based Microsoft Research Asia – dubbed an AI bootcamp.
“[DeepSeek] managed to get the best of the best,” said Daniel Palomar, PhD adviser to R1 core contributor Junxiao Song.
“[DeepSeek] managed to get the best of the best,” said Daniel Palomar, PhD adviser to R1 core contributor Junxiao Song.
February 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
These AI talents come from Chinese universities, state-backed labs, and companies such as Beijing-based Microsoft Research Asia – dubbed an AI bootcamp.
“[DeepSeek] managed to get the best of the best,” said Daniel Palomar, PhD adviser to R1 core contributor Junxiao Song.
“[DeepSeek] managed to get the best of the best,” said Daniel Palomar, PhD adviser to R1 core contributor Junxiao Song.
Thanks Carwyn! I contributed a small part but agree it’s a good list😆
January 16, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Thanks Carwyn! I contributed a small part but agree it’s a good list😆