The AI agent era has started in China. It looks different from anywhere else

Ever wondered what happens when AI agents are adopted at scale? Look no further than China.Over the last two months, people — yes, ordinary citizens — have been installing OpenClaw on their devices. Local governments are incentivising OpenClaw projects. Grandparents are lining up to get the software installed. And a cottage industry of "influencers" is telling people how to optimise their agent usage. It's a social and cultural moment as much as a technological one. How did China get here? To answer that question, we have Kevin Xu on this episode of Zero Shot. Kevin is the founder of Interconnected Capital, a global technology hedge fund, and a widely-read writer at the intersection of technology and geopolitics.His career is seemingly divergent: former White House press staffer, head of GitHub's international expansion, and an investor in AI startups. But it is this layered perspective — of a tech analyst, writer, fund manager, and operator all rolled into one — that can truly unpack what is happening in China.Tune in!____This episode was produced by Vidhatri Rao and edited by Rajiv CN.____Zeus, the mascot of Zero Shot, was generated using AI. Everything else is made by humans, just like all articles, columns, newsletters, and other podcasts created by The Ken. Write to us at [email protected]. We are all ears!____Additional ResourcesInterconnected | Chinese open source: A definitive historyHustlers are cashing in on China’s OpenClaw AI crazeIn China, a rush to "raise lobsters" quickly leads to second thoughtsOpenClaw, government support fuel rise of 1-person companies in China"Claw-powered" one-person companies become hot topic at China's "two sessions"Explore Intermission