All aboard! Crossing AI Research Fellow 24S

In early July, Crossing published its AI Research Fellow recruitment. We received nearly 50 applications, and after carefully reading every email and profile and chatting with candidates online, we selected six Fellows for Season 1 (S24). Over the next three months, they will work alongside Crossing to research and share insights on AI.

📷 July 7, 2024

AI Research Fellow S24

Group photo taken at Shanghai Caohejing

What is the AI Research Fellow Program?

Crossing is always looking for like-minded people to become AI Research Fellows. Together with our Fellows, we aim to:

• Explore 🌍: Research and analyze the latest AI products from around the world
• Write ✍️: Produce weekly write-ups on products that are interesting, useful, or resonant
• Connect 🤝: Interact frequently online and offline, building friendships with kindred spirits

Who are the S24 Fellows?

Edward, AI Research Fellow 24S

Solo innovation lab at a major tech company

A designer who isn't like an artist is no good as an indie developer. Edward is a cross-disciplinary innovator at the intersection of design and technology who calls himself a "Hacker and Painter" — a phrase that perfectly captures his career arc from designer and artist to indie developer. He's an emerging indie developer who was previously a new media artist, and has also worked as a creative experience product manager and designer. He studied in Shanghai to "create for a better world," then explored the fusion of Chinese culture and design in New York, and honed his artistic thinking and skills in London. He previously contributed to Huawei's HarmonyOS design and helped define and build next-generation digital cockpits at an automaker. Currently, he's actively exploring the possibilities of indie development in the AI era, dedicated to crafting user experiences indistinguishable from magic, and pushing the boundaries of AI applications in creative fields by blending art, design, and technology.

🟡 Jike: luo-G-R

🟢 WeChat: Ed_grluo

Fanhan, AI Research Fellow 24S

Practitioner of the one-person company

A representative of young people in the AI era. Fanhan is a Gen Z practitioner from the front lines of AI entrepreneurship, with 9,000+ followers on Jike, known for sharing hands-on AI product experience. After graduation, he boldly chose to explore the "one-person company" alongside AI rather than take the traditional employment path. He began closely following generative AI developments in late 2022 and became proficient with tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney for work and learning. He previously joined "Monkey Infinite," an AI SaaS startup backed by MiraclePlus, where he helped research and refine enterprise AI solutions based on AI agents. Throughout college, he consistently built in public on social media, successfully developing a personal brand and achieving solid commercial results. From work to lifestyle, Fanhan embodies the distinctive style of an active doer in the AI era — if you want to understand what that means, follow his social media accounts.

🟡 Jike: 泛函

🟢 WeChat: fanhanjcc1205

Hardy, AI Research Fellow 24S

Currently interning at Monolith, heading to UC Berkeley this September

Hardy has been deeply engaged in AI strategy, product, and user research since August 2022. He founded the WeChat public account "Startup Research," through which he's connected with numerous industry professionals. He's currently interning at Monolith and will begin his studies at UC Berkeley in September. He has published multiple high-quality AI research articles covering product user analysis (such as an in-depth examination of Character.ai), corporate strategy research (such as an interpretation of Google's AI strategy), and data advantage discussions (such as analysis of data moats in AI applications).

🟢 WeChat public account: "Startup Research"

🟢 WeChat: Hardybeee

Jiankan, AI Research Fellow 24S

An AI R&D productivity product expert currently serving as AI DevOps product lead at a major internet company, with extensive experience in cutting-edge intelligent development products including code intelligence, AI IDEs, and AI search. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Fudan University — an unusual background that informs his approach to AI product design and user experience optimization. By integrating design thinking with product strategy, Jiankan aims to continuously explore innovative applications of AI technology in software development, building smarter and more efficient development ecosystems.

AI DevOps Product Lead at a major internet company

⚫ X: @jiankanhua

🟢 WeChat: huajiankan

Jing, AI Research Fellow 24S

Financial industry solutions at a large model company

Jing, also known by her nickname "Zezhi," is an INTJ who made the leap from finance to tech. After leaving the comfort of an established foreign bank, she cut her teeth at a SaaS startup and a traditional AI company, growing from a frontline sales rep to a solutions lead. She now works in solutions at a large model unicorn, dedicated to finding effective paths for deploying large models at financial institutions. Jing loves humanistic reflection and occasionally writes about fintech and AI industry observations on Xiaohongshu, where she has over 2,000 followers. Originally from Jiangxi, she earned her bachelor's degree from Renmin University of China and her master's from the London School of Economics.

🔴 Xiaohongshu: 泽雉的书房和大海

🟢 WeChat: BC369_ZZ

Ziwen Tong, AI Research Fellow 24S

Flow Engineer at a ToB AI startup

Currently working as a Workflow Engineer at a Shanghai-based ToB AI startup, primarily responsible for structured prompt engineering, RAG knowledge base testing, and RPA+AI workflow development. A post-95s AI practitioner from Wuhan, he earned his bachelor's degree in computer science from Oregon State University. In his spare time, he actively participates in AI community activities such as Coze agent co-creation projects and Dify agent building. He stays current on AI developments through diverse information channels including Twitter, Jike, Xiaoyuzhou, and RSS feeds. He's proficient with tools like ChatGPT Plus, Devv AI, and SD WebUI, and is enthusiastic about emerging AI products like Claude, Dify, and ComfyUI. Through the AI Research Fellow opportunity, he's looking to deepen his thinking about AI products, expand his industry network, and continue exploring and growing in the AI field.

🟡 Jike: Go4It_zw

🟢 WeChat: Ziwen_1220

After confirming these partners as Crossing Fellows, we held a simple welcome ceremony. In our conversations, we felt everyone's enthusiasm for exploring new things. Though each person expresses it differently, being able to work alongside these curious, action-oriented people has been energizing for us too. Once again, welcome to all of you.

To those who weren't selected: as we said in our conversations, thank you so much for your support. Crossing will definitely create more ways for us to learn and take action together.

How can I follow along and participate?

Crossing's WeChat public account will publish the AI Research Fellows' work over the next three months — stay tuned.

Here's a sneak peek at the topics everyone is working on in our Notion Work Station:

You can also join Crossing's membership group. In the group, Fellows will periodically share QR codes for "slow pop-up groups" — inviting members interested in specific topics to join the discussion. For example, in the "AI-Powered Second Brain" slow pop-up group initiated by Fellow Edward, members had a lively exchange about note-taking apps in the AI era.

How can I become a future AI Research Fellow?

Season 1 of the Fellow Program is now fully recruited. We run rolling recruitment every three months — please keep an eye on the latest announcements from Crossing's WeChat public account.