How the AI Wave Has Changed Me

January 18, 2026 · 4602 words · 22 min read · #Random Thoughts

Tonight (this piece was written on the evening of January 15th) I had dinner with a friend at a spring pancake restaurant across from the office — haven’t been there in a while. Last time was after a project closed, eating with colleagues. That project’s been gone almost eight months now. One of my teammates said: “In 2025, you and I were in contact for at least eight months.” 2025 brought a significant shift in my work — more project-based, more centered on people.

The work itself doesn’t challenge me. I tend toward introversion, a little socially awkward with strangers — but I open up, especially once I know people. And I’ve found that I genuinely love talking with people: across departments, across roles, across business lines. Swapping notes on how work gets done. Understanding different business models. Talking about ordinary life.

The Drifting Feeling That Comes With Moving

March 20, 2025 · 1009 words · 5 min read · #Random Thoughts

Just before our two-year lease was up, the landlord sent a WeChat message: “Hey, Little Chen. Sorry about this — it’s not going to work for me to renew after the lease ends. Wanted to give you a heads-up. If the timing is a problem, staying an extra month or two is totally fine; I’m not in a rush. The place won’t be needed until June or July, so just do what works for you.”

Understood. Time to start looking.

The Value of AI in Insurance

February 7, 2025 · 1065 words · 5 min read · #Random Thoughts

DeepSeek has been making waves lately — its impact rivals ChatGPT’s debut at the end of 2023.

Today I chatted with my friend @Yuzi, who works at an insurance brokerage, about AI and insurance. Here are some highlights from our conversation, along with a few thoughts of my own — mostly for my own record.