Yasufumi Fujii Breaks Down U.S. and China Tech News! US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab
Hello, I’m Kenny from beBit’s DMC (Division of Marketing & Communications).
Have you ever heard of the podcast “US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab by beBit,” where we talk about the latest business trends from a global perspective?
In this article, I’ll be introducing what kind of podcast “US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab” is!
※The podcast is in Japanese only.
What is the “US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab”?
“US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab” is an audio-log-style podcast where the three of us -Yasufumi Fujii-san, beBit’s CCO and author of the “After Digital” series, Liu-san, who is in charge of China research, and myself, Kenny, responsible for US research- hold a global trend research meeting.
In each episode, we discuss the latest trends and noteworthy news, with each member offering their unique perspective. For example, I introduced how AI technology in the US is impacting the news industry based on my experiences there, while Liu-san covers the latest trends in China from a local perspective. Fujii-san delves deeper into these topics from a business and UX perspective.
Why did we choose to broadcast this via podcast?
In the DMC, we regularly share the latest UX insights through newsletters, reports, and seminars. However, in order to deliver information to people in an easier format, we decided to launch the “US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab” podcast, allowing people to listen casually while commuting or during their free time.
Why you should listen to “US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab”
in “US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab,” we don’t just introduce trends; we place importance on understanding the backgrounds of the topics.
For example, in an episode where we discussed the topic of the AI chatbot “Ed” implemented by the Los Angeles Unified School District, we didn’t just talk about the challenges of AI, but also touched on issues such as oversized class sizes and teacher strikes in the US. By doing so, we explored deeper reasons behind why the AI implementation didn’t go accordingly.
Additionally, in an episode focused on mini-apps/games on China’s WeChat, Liu-san shared her real life experiences in China, explaining how the games on WeChat are used by users while touching on trends in Chinese society. By incorporating the local perspective, the content becomes something that is more relatable.
In this way, “US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab” provides deeper insights into the essential aspects and business impacts behind the news by adding Fujii-san’s sharp analysis and combining liu-san’s and my personal experiences and cultural differences.
Recommended Episode
Among the episodes of “US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab,” one I highly recommend is “The Latest Trends in AI Video Generation: China’s ‘Kling’ and America’s ‘Sora.’”
Liu-san and I conduct research independently before recording each episode, as we cover different markets: China and the US. This usually means we bring different topics. However, in this episode, we happened to both speak about the evolution of AI video generation. I discussed the AI Sora, which was drawing attention in the US market, while Liu-san covered “Kling,” which was gaining traction in China, and we were able to compare their differences and similarities.
Kling is an AI used by the popular short-video app “Kuaishou” in China, generating high quality videos in a short amount of time. OpenAI’s Sora has been used in works at the Cannes Lions Festival (one of the world’s top three advertising awards), and it can also create high-quality footage quickly.
In the episode, we also introduced user opinions comparing Kilng and Sora. For example, in the video comparison, Sora was said to have more dynamic camera angles. When it came to generating human faces, Sora’s image appeared more natural while Kling showed some deformation. However, when it came to non-realistic characters like 3D monsters, the quality was almost eye-to-eye.
This episode, which compares the latest technologies from China and the US and discusses their practical applications and future potential, is definitely worth a listen!
Give it a listen!
If you're even a little interested, please check out the podcast!
※The podcast is in Japanese only.
Spotify：
Apple Podcasts：
Amazon Music：
“US-China UX & Tech Trends Lab” goes beyond introducing trends; we aim to provide information that allows listeners to understand and practically apply international insights. We hope to continue delivering valuable content and grow into a beloved channel for a long time to come.
Please look forward to our upcoming episodes!