It used to be for shopping and lipstick. Now, a Chinese app is a haven for tech workers to swap AI intel.
Brandon Chen stands in a Berkeley workspace holding a copy of "The Startup Owner's Manual." Brandon Chen Rednote has evolved into a major AI discussion hub for Chinese tech workers globally. The app, originally focused on beauty and shopping, now attracts tech founders and AI startups. Tech founders use Rednote to promote their startups, demo products, and hire people. When the Chinese app Rednote launched in 2013, it was mainly used for shopping and cosmetics reviews. Now, it's one of the hottest hubs for Chinese tech workers in Silicon Valley to talk shop about AI. Rednote is also known as Xiaohongshu, which translates to "Little Red Book." For Chinese tech workers in the Bay Area working at companies like OpenAI and Meta, Rednote has become a sort of home away from home for shopping and food recommendations. And since the launch of ChatGPT, AI-related content on Rednote has exploded. Technology-related content on the app has more than doubled ...
