Beijing AI User Group BAUG

Over 20 years ago, there was a community in Beijing called BLUG (Beijing Linux User Group). Every Tuesday evening, a group of people interested in open-source technology and culture would gather to talk about Linux, open-source technologies, and their application scenarios. The meetup took place at the White Nights restaurant in Dongzhimen, and each session typically featured a speaker. People would grill skewers, drink beer, discuss, and chat. Around 20 to 30 people attended each time, half of them Chinese and the other half foreigners. What brought them together was not just the potential of open-source technology but also a shared recognition of the open-source culture.

More than 20 years later, in what is now called the AI era, amidst an environment filled with capital, startups, technology, computing power, algorithms, data, and metrics—a chaotic scene reminiscent of a steel mill—we need a simple and clean space to talk about applications, values, and lifestyles, just like the open-source community did over 20 years ago. Similarly, what brings people together is not just the enormous potential of AI technology but also a shared recognition of a deeper culture of intelligence.

Back then, people in the open-source community pursued open code and ideas, freely developing and building software. At the time, the "enemy" they faced was Microsoft and the closed software development model.

Today, are we more open and free than we were back then? Well, it seems not. On the surface, our world appears to be more open and free, and our technology more advanced and intelligent. But in reality, while there is a lot of open code, there are few open minds; while there are many shallow opinions, there is little deep thinking; while there is much mutual blame, there is little understanding and respect; while there are many walls, there are few bridges. All of this, just like back then, is not the fault of politicians or capitalists—they are merely doing their jobs. Just like before, it is up to engineers and thinkers to step forward. Just as they once broke down the barriers of closed code, now it is time to break down the walls of shallow entertainment and intellectual stagnation. The AI era provides us with tools for deep thinking, but at the same time, it deprives many people of the opportunity to think deeply. We are now facing an "enemy" even more powerful than Microsoft back then, grappling with even greater challenges and problems. Difficult yet interesting problems were what once excited hackers. Those hackers of the past—today's seekers of truth, explorers of reality, and deep thinkers—need to come together once again to talk about AI applications, deep thought, and authentic living. Seeking truth, exploring, and playing.

Thus, for these truth-seeking explorers, including myself, I propose the establishment of BAUG (Beijing AI User Group), an organization open to everyone, regardless of nationality, gender, race, religion, or language. As long as you seek truth and explore, you are welcome to join the game. Explorers, welcome home.

20多年前，在北京有个社区叫做BLUG (Beijing Linux User Group)，一群对开源技术和文化有兴趣的人每周二晚上会聚在一起，聊聊Linux，开源技术，开源应用场景等。聚会的场所是东直门的白夜餐厅，每次一般都有个主讲人，大家一起撸串、喝酒、讨论，聊天。每次大约二三十人，一半中国人，一半老外。这些人聚在一起的不只是开源技术的潜力，更是对开源文化的认同。

20多年后，在所谓的AI时代，在充满资本、创业、技术、算力、算法、数据、跑分的大炼钢铁烟熏火燎的环境中，需要一个简单干净的地方，聊聊应用、价值和生活方式，如同20多年前的开源社区。同样，聚在一起不只是因为AI技术的巨大潜力，更是对深智文化的认同。

当年，开源社区的人追求的是开放代码和想法，自由开发构建软件，当时面对的“敌人”是微软和封闭的软件开发模式。

今天，我们是不是比当年更加开放、更加自由了呢？well，seems not。表面上，我们的世界似乎更加开放自由了，我们的技术更加先进智能了。实际上，开放的代码很多，开放的思想很少；浅薄的观点很多，深度的思考很少；相互指责很多，理解尊重很少；墙很多，桥很少。这一切，如同当年一样，不是政治家、资本家的错，他们还是在做自己的本职工作而已。如同当年一样，工程师和思想者应该挺身而出，如同当年打破封闭代码之门一样，现在需要打破奶头乐和思想之墙。AI时代给我们提供了深度思考的工具，也同时剥夺了很多人深度思考的机会。而我们面对着比当年微软更加强大的“敌人”，面对着更强大的挑战和问题。难而有趣的问题，正是让当年的黑客的兴奋剂。当年的黑客，今天的追求真理，寻求真相，深度思考的人，需要重新聚在一起，聊聊AI应用、深度思考和真实的生活。求真，探索，游戏。

所以，为了包括我在内的这些求真的探游者，建立BAUG (Beijing AI User Group)，一个开放给所有人的组织，不限制国籍、性别、种族、宗教、语言。只要你想求真，在探索，就可以一起游戏。探游者，welcome home。