When More and More People Want to Become Super-Individuals | Chatting with Jiang Dora About Career Journey, AI Experience, and Life in Liangzhu, Hangzhou
Choices at life's crossing.
Recently, while talking with some friends, we noticed that even though they may not be actively working in AI startups or investing in the space, their lives have undergone some interesting changes in what we'd call the AI era — AI, career choices, lifestyle decisions, all of it has catalyzed transformations for certain people during this period.
So we wanted to try something new: beyond our usual AI coverage, we'd like to add interviews about "how our lives are changing in the age of AI, and how people are making choices."
This week, we invited Dora Jiang, the creator behind the self-media brand "Jiang Dora Zai Ci" ("姜 Dora 在此"), for a crossover episode with her podcast Jiang Dora Zai Ci [1]. Dora shared her career journey in detail, her reflections on professional development and personal growth, how she uses AI as a creator to explore herself and boost productivity, and her experience of moving from Beijing to Liangzhu, Hangzhou in 2024 — what life is actually like in this community supposedly filled with entrepreneurs and super-individuals.
At a time when AI can seemingly extend a person's capabilities without limit, when opportunities appear abundant yet uncertainty looms, let's explore the choices people face at life's crossroads through their stories.
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Part 1. Dora's Career: Every Step Was a Close Call
04:06 What she wanted from work as a student: to become a translator
05:39 Her first job seemed like a dream come true, but she quit after three months
08:30 After resigning, she seriously pondered: what exactly is a career? Two realizations.
10:06 A pivotal career turn: joining a big tech company
11:22 Looking back: experience across text, audio, video, plus a platform-level perspective
12:22 Entering the internet industry at the tail end of its cycle
15:07 In an industry where everything changes fast, the hardest part is finding some certainty amid discontinuity
16:40 Industry uncertainty vs. creative overflow
20:09 She wasn't alone in this state; understanding what "fault tolerance" at a big company really means
22:46 "Why am I treating myself this way?"
24:31 The real challenge of leaving big tech: beyond losing stable income, losing social identity
25:26 How she evaluated whether to leave for self-media: the purchasing logic
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Part 2. Using AI for Self-Discovery and Productivity
28:58 Self-discovery: if talking to a smart person elevates your thinking, AI can play that role well
31:11 Moving from Beijing to Liangzhu, Hangzhou — understanding her own motivations after hours of conversation with AI
34:39 With AI, emotions she once processed alone now have an outlet
38:10 As a creator, feeding interview transcripts to AI to discover its strengths and limitations
40:41 "Constantly figuring out if I'm a creator or an entrepreneur" — much exploration
44:14 Self-reflection: why has hiring never worked out for her as a creator?
47:38 Through self-exploration and self-management, clarity that expression is what she truly wants — and everything fell into place
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Part 3. Life in Liangzhu: The Environment Seems More Secluded, But the Heart Opens Wider
49:51 From Beijing to Hangzhou: Hangzhou feels like a budget Beijing, with more greenery
51:16 Choosing Liangzhu: the design philosophy of the cultural village and its community atmosphere
54:06 The profile of Liangzhu life
1:02:05 Are more people wanting to become super-individuals?
1:04:36 A super-individual can leave the corporate world and trade directly with the market
1:06:23 Being a super-individual is exhausting
1:08:18 AI accelerates or aligns with the super-individual trend, but it only provides knowledge — internalization and action still depend on the person
1:10:16 Many come to Liangzhu seeking inner peace and a unique way of living
1:14:14 Early in her career, the dominant narrative encouraged looking outward
1:16:17 When the career narrative shifts, the better path is to look inward and build deep relationships with those around you
1:17:06 Views on effort: humans have an instinct to create and work
1:20:01 Inspiration from her mother: turning a garbage dump into a vegetable garden
1:23:25 Making small, manageable improvements
Subscribe to the "Crossing" Podcast
🚦 We track the industry shifts and entrepreneurial opportunities brought by the new wave of AI technology. "Crossing" is Steve Jobs's metaphor for Apple — standing at the intersection of technology and liberal arts, where great products are born. AI is transforming every industry, and we seek out, interview, and gather the "active doers" of the AI era to explore and embrace new changes and possibilities together.
👦🏻 Host Koji: Co-founder of The Fair and Tangdao. I believe technology, especially AI, will fundamentally reshape society and empower humanity. Feel free to reach out to chat, exchange ideas, and connect on what's next. Koji on Jike [2], Koji's website [3]
👧🏻 Host Ronghui: Works at a tech VC, former Silicon Valley correspondent for CBNweekly. Ronghui on Jike [4]
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References
[1] Jiang Dora Zai Ci: https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/podcast/60d93b97b3c5e390a8b61e40
[2] Koji on Jike: https://okjk.co/0JSUes
[3] Koji's website: https://koji.super.site/
[4] Ronghui on Jike: https://okjk.co/0cbnYV