Translating technological progress

Afra bridges Silicon Valley and China as a bilingual writer who understands technological progress from both sides of the Pacific. After growing up in China and working for five years in Silicon Valley across AI, media, and crypto, she brings unique insights into how different institutional arrangements enable—or constrain—innovation.

Her fellowship essays will explore the AI competition between China and the U.S., examining how China serves as both challenge and mirror for Western technology communities. This work addresses a crucial gap: as technological development becomes increasingly multipolar, understanding progress requires frameworks that work across different cultural and institutional contexts.

Snowboard-riding cinephile and history-lover

When I’m not analyzing tech ecosystems, you’ll find me snowboarding on the slopes or hiking mountain trails—there’s something about being in nature that clears my head and sparks new ideas. I also host CyberPink, a Chinese-language podcast exploring contemporary culture, which has taken me to film festivals in Tokyo and Cannes. I spend an embarrassing amount of time in museums and painting as well.