From DeepSeek to Kimi, China's open-source AI models have gotten all the attention. But open source has a much longer history in China, according to Kevin Xu, former head of global expansion strategy at GitHub. Kevin takes us on a journey through China's open source evolution, from its grassroots beginnings to its central role today in China's AI strategy. We also get into the current OpenClaw craze in China and why Chinese tech firms seem to be jumping in faster than their American peers.

00:00 Intro to Kevin Xu

04:21 Early days of Chinese open source

16:11 1024 Programmers' Day and 996.ICU

27:33 Huawei enters the game

41:57 DeepSeek moment

51:17 China's OpenClaw frenzy

56:40 Will China keep doing open-source?

Links:

• Chinese Open Source: A Definitive History
• Kevin Xu's Interconnected newsletter
• Interconnected Capital
• Kevin Xu on Twitter / X

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