Chinese AI Researchers Flock to X to Shape Global AI Discourse
Original: Chinese AI Researchers Are Finding Their Voice on X
Why This Matters
Chinese labs' growing X presence signals a strategic push for global influence in the competitive AI landscape.
As OpenAI and Anthropic employees grow quieter online, Chinese AI researchers from labs like Moonshot AI, DeepSeek, and Minimax are increasingly active on X, sharing research, recruiting talent, and engaging with global AI communities since early 2025.
Over the past year, Chinese AI researchers have been steadily joining X and participating in global AI discussions, a trend that accelerated after DeepSeek's R1 model went viral in early 2025. Moonshot AI, the company behind Kimi K3, has approximately 30 affiliated accounts on X, including two cofounders, actively discussing releases and research. Other Chinese labs such as Minimax, Z.ai, and DeepSeek also maintain active presences. Even some DeepSeek employees — reportedly unable to leave China due to government-confiscated passports — regularly post on X and share job listings. Meng Fanqing, cofounder of Evolvent AI and former Moonshot intern, describes X as 'the best community' for AI discussions, citing its cross-border audience and effective recommendation algorithm. He began actively posting in mid-2025, noting that Chinese researchers began thinking about 'branding on an international level' following DeepSeek's global moment. Independent AI analyst Tiezhen Wang, a former Hugging Face researcher, attributes the shift partly to OpenAI and Anthropic employees becoming more secretive and posting less, creating a gap that Chinese researchers are filling. Chinese platforms like Zhihu are seen as inadequate for serious technical discussion, making X the preferred outlet.