As AI moves from my workflows into daily life, I find myself rethinking efficiency, dependence, what remains uniquely human, and the value of life beyond productivity.

A magical 15-minute trip to the small town of Eugene.

(This article is the third part of a series.) After planning for more than half a month, I started a real-life practice of “being on the road.” From Beijing to Hangzhou, sixty-one bus rides stitched together the happiest nine days of my 2024. No interruptions, escaping reality, backpack on my shoulders, canvas tote in hand — all I needed to do was move forward, observe along the way, experience as much as possible, and feel everything with a calm heart.

(This article is the second part of a series.) After planning for more than half a month, I started a real-life practice of “being on the road.” From Beijing to Hangzhou, sixty-one bus rides stitched together the happiest nine days of my 2024. No interruptions, escaping reality, backpack on my shoulders, canvas tote in hand — all I needed to do was move forward, observe along the way, experience as much as possible, and feel everything with a calm heart.

(This article is the first part of a series.) After planning for more than half a month, I started a real-life practice of “being on the road.” From Beijing to Hangzhou, sixty-one bus rides stitched together the happiest nine days of my 2024. No interruptions, escaping reality, backpack on my shoulders, canvas tote in hand — all I needed to do was move forward, observe along the way, experience as much as possible, and feel everything with a calm heart.

A travel memoir, eleven months late. The story of a 48-hour journey from San Diego to Abu Dhabi for the IROS conference, and the unforgettable challenges, encounters, gains, and growth that shaped me along the way.