a16z Podcast Can the US Beat China’s Engineering State?
226 snips
Oct 6, 2025 
Dan Wang, a research fellow and author of "Breakneck," discusses China’s rapid engineering advancements and industrial strategies. He contrasts U.S. and Chinese infrastructure approaches, highlighting how cultural differences shape regulatory environments. Steven Sinofsky, former Microsoft executive, analyzes the complexities of public-private partnerships and the challenges of U.S. government projects. Together, they explore the implications of intellectual property dynamics, the importance of manufacturing resurgence in the U.S., and the strategic role of China's engineering diplomacy.
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Competition Is About Building, Not Labels
- The US and China compete not just on tech but on how they build at scale and speed.
- Dan Wang urges moving beyond rigid political labels to learn practical strengths from each side.
Lawyer-Led Versus Engineer-Led Cultures
- Sinofsky frames the U.S. as lawyer-led vs. China as engineering-led, shaping institutions and reactions.
- This cultural split explains why big U.S. firms immediately asked to be regulated around AI.
Shanghai's Everyday Functionality
- Dan Wang recounts living in Shanghai where public transit, late-night shops, and parks just work reliably.
- He contrasts that with Silicon Valley's poor transit and asks why Caltrain can't perform better.
