Two interesting things lately: Crossing's positioning & Video Battle.

Hi, I'm Koji, and "Crossing" is my personal newsletter. The name comes from something Steve Jobs once said — about standing at the intersection of technology and the humanities.

I'm the co-founder of sleep environment brand Tangdao and content company The Fair. I previously founded the Jiepang app and was involved in the early days of Fanfou and Jumei International Holding Limited.

As a quintessential cross-disciplinary entrepreneur, I've let curiosity carry me across all kinds of "crossings" — from mobile internet to e-commerce, from content to consumer goods.

Two interesting things lately: first, I've figured out the positioning for "Crossing"; second, The Fair co-launched two seasons of the Global Generative AI Video Challenge, or Video Battle for short.

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The positioning for "Crossing": Finding and gathering the active doers of the AI era.

In 2024, with the economy in a slump and the overall social mood still down, only people working in AI still radiate positive energy.

So I hope to use "Crossing" to meet these active doers of the AI era, join them, and together try something significant, novel, and adventurous.

The Crossing podcast recently released four new episodes, and without exception, they all tell stories of active doers in the AI era:

1. In the AI era, what's new for SaaS software? | Talking with serial entrepreneur Tony Gu, who got into AI back in 2018, about "doing smart things the dumb way"
2. Called a "top AI product manager," hidecloud: whether I'm top-tier is fleeting; following curiosity is the best approach
3. "I'd feel sorry for this era if I didn't do something" | Interview with indigo: rang the bell; invested in OpenAI, Anthropic; 300% returns on US stocks
4. Will the next king of comedy necessarily be AI? A conversation with stand-up comedian Mao Dong and former Laughing Fruit brand director Vincent Zoo

"Crossing" was one of the fastest-growing podcasts in the AI space in 2024. Welcome to scan the code and listen — draw some positive energy from these people:

Sam Altman wrote something on his 30th birthday:

Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with smart, interesting, ambitious people. Work for them, hire them (actually, one of the most fulfilling parts of work is building deep relationships with really good people). Spend as much time as possible with people who are either among the best in the world at what they do or have the potential to be but are undiscovered. You really do become the average of the people you spend the most time with, and this is true.

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When ordinary people have AI, what miracles will appear in the world?

"Wild Temple" and "The Road to AGI" are both hyperactive communities in the AIGC space. They co-launched the recent two seasons of Video Battle with The Fair — a generative AI video challenge held once a week.

The themes for these two seasons were: "EYE" and "EGG."

For the "EGG" season, we specially invited writer Li Dan to serve as the proposer and judge. "Dan" (his nickname) proposed the theme "egg."

Designers, product managers, film and TV professionals, and ordinary people with zero prior AI experience used AI to create works beyond imagination. Two of them had only been exposed to AI for one month. Traditional creation takes extensive time to cultivate, while AI is catalyzing the diverse realization of inspiration — it fairly welcomes every creative person.

We believe: AI will let new artistic idols emerge from ordinary people.

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Since The Fair is a co-initiator of Video Battle, I became one of the judges as The Fair's co-founder. The judging panel consists of three people (Wild Temple founder Ye Pusa, "The Road to AGI" lead AJ, and myself) plus each season's champion. Every Sunday night we stay up late reviewing all the works submitted that week — hundreds of videos each season. It leaves me dazzled, but also amazed that with AI, no matter how wild and boundless the creativity, it can be produced so quickly.

Let me share a few of my favorite works from the judging process:

For the "egg" theme, many works expressed "egg = new life," but this one went the opposite direction: through an egg-shaped rusted wire fence, you see three running children amid ruins, as if telling people: "Some new life comes from escape."

Sisyphus pushing an "egg." Here, what exactly is the "egg"? Is it hope, or is it self-imposed confinement?

Adults, worn down by life, may become increasingly pragmatic, even pessimistic, gradually retreating into the "depths of the cave." Children are the continuation of adults, full of hope for the future — the existence that adults "see light and hope" in.

Among all the "giant eye phobia" works, this one feels the most terrifying: big brother is watching you. A giant spider serves as the eyeball, creating an intensely impactful sense of fear. Surveillance and control, the unknown and mystery — as if it can see through people's hearts, making one feel there's nowhere to hide.

A crowd marching with eye-shaped totems. It's not merely a visual presentation; it's more like the beginning of a story. The eye totem symbolizes insight and wisdom, truth and justice, awakening and resistance. But I can't help thinking darkly: in history, when people march, they often believe they've seen a better world, but this is actually utopian fantasy, or an emotional reaction from feeling good about themselves after being "brainwashed."

Many works about eyes tend to be heavy or bizarre, but this one — colorful balloons filling the sky, forming the pattern of an eye — lets people "see" hope, optimism, and vibrant color, conveying positive upward energy. In 2024, with the overall social mood pessimistic and low, this work has a healing power.

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Welcome to add the assistant on WeChat at Rwkfbcianvd to join the "Crossing" reader and listener group.

This group has one and only one goal: to help everyone meet new friends and become fellow travelers for the future.