From Medical Student to AI Artist | A Conversation with Hyacinth on AI Video Tools, Startup Opportunities, and Life's Crossroads
A "Follow Your Heart" Story
If you search for Hyacinth's name on WeChat Official Accounts, you'll find her described as an "experimental filmmaker," "AIGC artist," "art innovator of the AI era," and more. Over the past two years, her AI creations have gained industry recognition — from early AI shorts made for brands, to her involvement in To Dear Me, which won Best Film at the Beijing International Film Festival's AI competition, to her recent viral hit Palace Cats on the Clock with over 100 million views across the web, and the AI-animated music video She Rests in the Light for the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. As we've said, "Crossing aims to find, interview, and bring together active doers in the AI era" — Hyacinth is undoubtedly one of them.
This week on the podcast, we invited Hyacinth to share stories from her AI filmmaking journey, her perspective as a frontline AI art creator on the current AI video generation products and client attitudes in the market. Beyond that, Hyacinth also told us about her path from medical school student to following her own desires into film and television, making choices at various "crossroads" in life.
The AI Hacker House launched by Crossing also co-hosted an event in early 2025 with Demo Inn, founded by Hyacinth. We were inspired by everyone's creativity and enthusiasm, and were especially happy and encouraged that more than half of those demoing were women. We hope to hold more events like this going forward, inviting more active doers to join us.
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🟢 Part 1: AI Art Creator Hyacinth and Her Recent Work Palace Cats on the Clock
01:50 Hyacinth, AI art creator
02:20 Recent works: Palace Cats on the Clock, Yili Jinlingguan New Year short, CHAGEE advertisement
04:08 How Palace Cats on the Clock, with over 100 million cumulative views, was made
09:45 The client only specified runtime requirements; everything else was left to the creator's discretion
10:57 Firsthand observations on AI breakthroughs in video generation: more stable characters, improved image quality, greater style compatibility
15:00 Room for improvement: richness of camera movement, scene stability
🟢 Part 2: Tool Progress and Market Attitudes from a Frontline Creator's Perspective
17:59 As a frontline creator, favorite AI video products: Google Whisk, ImageFX
21:04 Recently impressive products: PixVerse Auto Sound, Hailuo AI Director Mode
23:16 Is there still startup opportunity in AI video?
24:41 If starting her own company, would most want to build a product at the intersection of virtual and physical
26:26 Advising AI video companies: providing creator feedback, observing changes in company personnel structure
29:30 Assessment of video models and generation tools on the market
32:53 Significant progress in video tools from September to now: making character-driven films is gradually becoming easier
35:13 Hyacinth's first AI commercial short: participating in production for Street Dance of China Season 5 in 2022
38:01 Clients willing to try AI video shorts: early on mostly gaming companies, then film/TV-related companies, now advertising agencies
40:44 Solid creative foundations from the past will definitely help in embracing AI
45:14 As AI video becomes easier to make, is quoting for clients becoming more competitive?
48:20 AI brings more possibilities for "storytelling" in this era
🟢 Part 3: From Medical School to AI Art Creator
49:45 Inspired by Up: I wanted to be the person creating that shot
50:49 Following her family's wishes to study medicine
52:58 Exploring interests through club activities during university
54:54 Trying not to view choices through a utilitarian lens, recognizing her many needs, not letting labels define her
56:27 Advice for friends who also want to do AI art creation: just start, done is better than perfect
58:55 Done is better than perfect vs. being hard on yourself
01:00:53 Study abroad experience: packed schedule, learning everything, "felt like there was no wasted time in life, everything was something I genuinely enjoyed"
01:05:33 Growth from studying abroad: learning inclusivity, not pursuing so-called "standards" in any field
01:07:49 Short film made during graduate studies, selected for Shanghai International Film Festival's project market training camp
01:09:14 Working as a director focused on new technology at Shanghai Media Group, continuously learning new technologies until encountering AI
01:11:57 "I have a very fundamental need: to be able to make a film entirely by myself"
01:13:51 There is joy in being on set, and new technologies bring new joys and challenges
01:18:03 Methods for sustaining inspiration: attending events, seeing what others are doing, learning things completely unrelated to work
01:19:38 Hopes for impact on the industry: believes AI still has vast untapped potential for effects, wants to explore what new effects AI can achieve
01:21:18 More skilled at engineering, letting go of planning in artistic expression, giving herself more time
01:22:40 Encouraging more women to take the stage, to believe in themselves
01:23:55 Hyacinth co-founded "Zhèng Huó Editorial Department" with "The Road to AGI," launched Demo Inn to encourage more people to participate
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🚦 We follow the industry transformations and new entrepreneurial opportunities brought by the new wave of AI technology. Crossing was Steve Jobs' metaphor for Apple — standing at the intersection of technology and liberal arts, where great products are born. AI is changing every industry. We find, interview, and bring together "active doers" in the AI era, exploring and embracing new changes and new possibilities with them.
👦🏻 Host Koji: Co-founder of The Fair / Tangdao. I believe technology, especially AI, will fundamentally transform society and empower humanity. Welcome to chat with me, bounce ideas, and connect on what's next. Koji on Jike[1], Koji's website[2]
👧🏻 Host Ronghui: Works at a tech VC, former Silicon Valley correspondent for CBNweekly. Ronghui on Jike[3]
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References
[1] Koji on Jike: https://okjk.co/0JSUes
[2] Koji's website: https://koji.super.site/
[3] Ronghui on Jike: https://okjk.co/0cbnYV