2024: A Bold Year of Explore
2024 was a bold decision year for me—more joy, confidence, reflection, and optimism than ever before.
Published: 2024-12-31
As the year comes to a close, here’s my personal recap (which, despite AI’s best efforts, still come from the depths of my own experiences 🤣).
From Beijing to Ottawa
One of the biggest changes in 2024 was my move from Beijing to Ottawa.
Before arriving, I deliberately managed my expectations. On one hand, I anticipated various inconveniences; on the other, social media’s recent criticisms of Canada didn’t inspire much confidence. However, after arriving, I found Ottawa far better than I had imagined. While humorously nicknamed “Ottawa Village,” it may lack the vibrancy and commercialization of larger cities, but it stands out for its friendliness, inclusiveness, excellent air quality, and beautiful natural environment.
I’m grateful to be here for my Technology Innovation Management (TIM) program, meeting people from diverse backgrounds. The experience has made me happier overall. I also believe that starting with school as a transitional phase is a wise choice—there’s no need to rush or overextend myself.
I’m glad I finally made this move after years of planning, even though there’s still uncertainty ahead. As Ben Thompson shared, “Uncertainty is both the risk and the opportunity, and things are more uncertain than ever.” Let’s embrace the pathless path.
More Confident
In 2024, I became more confident, thanks to feedback from those around me. It wasn’t that my English improved significantly; rather, I learned to embrace boldness and stop worrying about feeling embarrassed. If I don’t feel awkward, others might! Plus, people won’t know what you need unless you tell them. And when it comes to taking action, there’s no need for anyone’s approval—just go for it.
（A funny anecdote: at a recent hot pot gathering, a classmate once called ChatGPT (+1-800-242-8478) and asked why I’m sometimes nervous, sometimes super confident, and sometimes a little dumb. 🤣）
Another factor boosting my confidence was that I produced more content than before, publishing over 12 articles on travel, immigration, past work experiences, and personal reflections. Writing is thinking. While I’m not sure if I’ll maintain this level of output in 2025, I hope to continue sharing personal insights and contributing to my field in meaningful ways.
More Reflection
This year, I continued focusing on a theme that started for me in 2023: efficiency and productivity. Books like Filter World (my favorite of the year), Slow Productivity, and various viewpoints have provided me a clearer understanding of the digital world’s homogenizing effects. They’ve also inspired me to think about how to better adapt to this environment while cultivating my personal tastes.
Now, I prefer to stay grounded rather than chase efficiency blindly. The most valuable aspects of life are often immeasurable. Considering the rapid advancement of AI, I find the endless hustle to be somewhat meaningless. There aren’t that many urgent matters to attend to, so I choose to focus on what I enjoy, prioritizing quality over quantity. (These ideas also align with some of my thoughts on “work.”)
Since moving to Ottawa, I’ve been cooking for myself most of the time, which has been surprisingly fulfilling. Compared to the endless food deliveries I relied on in Beijing, I don’t feel like I’m missing out. The “nearby” that Professor Xiang Biao discusses is gradually becoming part of my life. Slowing down (or more bluntly, not working this year) has given me the space to think deeply and relax, leading to some significant outputs: my new personal website, a reflection on my past experiences, and various other insights.
More Optimistic
In my previous article, “Two Years with ChatGPT,” I mentioned feeling somewhat conflicted about the current trajectory of AI development. However, OpenAI’s recent announcements (o3/o3-mini) have eased some of my doubts. The pace of development is astonishing—potentially even faster than the forecasts in “SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: The Decade Ahead.”
We might see Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) as early as 2025, with even more powerful AI well before 2030. This could mean compressing a century of human progress into the next 5-10 years. The coming years promise to be incredibly exciting, and I truly believe I’ve experienced my last peaceful summer.
As for me, I’ll keep focusing on what I passionate about, and staying healthy, sleeping well, and nurturing happiness. Money and traditional “jobs” may soon lose some of their meaning.
We’re still early in the real-world adoption of AI, and there’s a long road ahead—filled with countless opportunities. I hope to leverage my past experience, insights into user experience, and an understanding of specific domains to create something truly useful—although, for now, I’m not entirely sure what that will be. There’s no need to rush; inspiration will come in time.
My best of 2024
(2024 was shaped by these standout products, digital experiences, and real-world adventures.)
Product
Best Product: ChatGPT
ChatGPT takes the top spot again for its Advanced Voice Mode, Live Camera, and Screen Share.
I talked to ChatGPT to finalize this article!
Best Personal Product: My own website
Curating my personal reflections and experiences is something I’m proud of—also a way for AI to learn more about me.
Best Software: Readwise Reader
Great software not only solves problems but also fosters new habits and lifestyles.
Readwise Reader has helped me develop a consistent reading habit, making it my top choice again this year.
(All the snippet images in this article were created using Readwise.)
Best Hardware: iPhone 16 Pro & Macbook Pro (M3 Max)
Access the full power of iOS/macOS and enjoy Apple Intelligence!
Genmoji is incredibly cool (the emoji of this article is my Genmoji)—looking forward to the official release and future updates.
Coolest Product: Claude Artifact & Computer use
Artifact’s capability to build an online tool with just a few prompts is astonishing.
It wasn’t until I saw Computer use from Claude that I truly believed the era of AI agents might be upon us. ("Building effective agents" guide from Anthropic)
Here’s a video capturing our reactions to Computer use:
Surprise Product: Dynamicland website
Its approach—simulating physical-world interactions digitally—is inspiring and unique.
Other potential products:
- Perplexity: I started using it as my main search tool before unlocking Pro. After upgrading, I discovered it surpassed ChatGPT in overall search efficiency. The “Space” feature, in particular, excelled for school assignments, even outperforming NotebookLM. As a campus strategist, I’ll share more use cases and look forward to how Perplexity competes with rivals.
- NotebookLM: I’m using it to generate podcasts from my articles and also compare it to Perplexity Space for knowledge-base generation.
- Arc: Although updates was paused, I still use it as my default browser on Mac.
- X&Grok: Its one-click feature to explain a post with real-time data is impressive—better than a chatbox. I’m excited for the next iteration.
Digital experience
(This is a major part of my “spiritual life.”)
Best Book: Filter World
Best Article: SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: The Decade Ahead
Highly recommended—you’ll see why I’m so excited about the future.
Best Newsletter: Stratechery By Ben Thompson
Absolutely worth subscribing to. I’ve realized that regardless of where you live, you can access the same online information—just offset by time zones.
Best Podcast (Madarin): 端闻
Each episode is meticulously produced—easily the best Madarin podcast in 2024.
Best Podcast (English): Stratechery
The paid version includes audio for every article and interview. While I don’t read every piece, I rarely miss an episode.
Best Anime Series: My Hero Academia Season 7
Although it’s not the final season, the storytelling and emotional depth are truly touching.
Best Video: Walk the Line
Their challenging journey and unwavering dedication were deeply inspiring. I’m fortunate to be here legally to study. AI is just a tool; I hope to contribute meaningfully once I can fully support myself.
Best Movie: Hillbilly Elegy
I didn’t watch many movies this year, but it deeply reminded me of my family and where I come from and continue.
That where we come from is who we are,
Best TV Series: Fallout
I originally planned to give this to Squid Game: Season 2, but since it hasn’t been released all at once, I decided otherwise. After visiting Canada’s Cold War museum, Diefenbunker, last week, I reflected on how this alternate timeline could have been real. So, the honor goes to Fallout.
Best Music: NEVER SAY GOODBYE
My most-played track on Apple Music, giving me energy (also resonates with my life). It’s the OP from the anime Golden Kamuy Season 4.
Best Game: Pokemon Go
Although it’s a long-past-its-prime game (even our professor mentioned it in class), this is my first time playing without restrictions. I’ve really enjoyed the fun of engaging with different players in person. Looking forward to joining more Community Day events in 2025!
Physical Experience
(No matter how immersive the digital world gets, it can’t fully replace real-world experiences. In-person experience is the new online experience.)
Best Travel Destination: Lake Kawaguchi & Izu Peninsula
Japan remains my top travel destination, excelling in every aspect. Even after two trips to Japan this year and moving to North America, I haven’t felt a strong urge to travel anywhere else.
Best Cusine: Gorosaya’s Sashimi to Kinment Teishoku
Among the most scrumptious dishes I’ve eaten—affordably priced, too.
Best Landscape: Gatineau Park
An unexpected trip—if not for my residency friends, I wouldn’t have seen such breathtaking views. Once the snow season ends, it’ll be the perfect time to start exploring more.
Best Offline Experience: Aurora
My first time seeing the aurora—breathtaking—especially since I spotted them near my school!
Best Museum: Canadian Museum of Nature
It took me 4 months after arriving in Ottawa to visit this amazing museum. I am now exploring more museums!
Best Live Show: Mayday
I attended two Mayday concerts and was beyond excited!
Being there in person was amazing.
Not sure when I’ll see them live again.
Grateful to this world for Mayday.
Best Exercise: Cycling in Ottawa
After getting my bike, I discovered Ottawa’s extensive network of dedicated cycling paths—a delightful surprise!
Best Offline Game: Catan
Almost every weekend night, I play various board games with residency friends, and Catan is my favorite. Even though I rarely win and often get targeted, it’s always a great time. Choosing to live on campus was definitely the right decision!
Best Thrilling Activity: Lunar New Year Firecrackers
For the first time since COVID-19, people are lighting firecrackers in designated areas. This long-awaited event has unleashed years of bottled-up emotions. The scene is like a thrilling battlefield—vivid, electrifying, and unforgettable!
Best Design: My DIY business card with NFC
It combines a QR code and NFC tag for quick access to my LinkedIn.
Best Meaningful Activity: Sending books to my friends
Before moving to Canada, I gave away my entire bookshelf. It was meaningful to continue the spread of knowledge with my connections.
Best Campaign: Perplexity’s “Final to race” at Carleton University
I was thrilled to help my Carleton community secure a 1-year free Perplexity Pro subscription, making it the second Canadian university to receive this benefit.
This experience showed me that AI adoption in the real world is a gradual process.
Group photos of 2024
I also took more group photos in 2024. Although I’m not a “photo person,” curating these pictures made me appreciate just how much happened throughout the year.
Looking forward to 2025
I’ll keep my options open in 2025.
Here are some of my small goals:
- Reach CLB9
- Sleep 8 hours a day
- Read 30 minutes daily
- Host personal sharing sessions
- Cycle to Gatineau Park with friends
- Finish one half-marathon in Ottawa
- Watch the Hamilton live concert
- Visit the Computer History Museum
- Collaborate with my future client (whoever that may be—I hope it’s someone I find and genuinely want to work with) for my final program project
And more interactions in the real world.
A longer-term goal is to discover something I truly passionate about through continuous exploration and experimentation—even if it doesn’t generate income initially.
Thank you to everyone who supported and encouraged me this year—here’s wishing you a fabulous 2025!
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