78 / The train of midlife hasn’t stopped - it has simply switched tracks
So, the newsletter is back.
Hello my friend! 👋
If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know that I’ve just made a sudden trip back to China because my father has been unwell. As with last time, it all happened quite abruptly, so the first half of October was a bit of a blur, with lots to juggle. Work naturally went on pause, including this newsletter.
The good news is that my father’s surgery went smoothly and his recovery is going well. For me, that means I can finally take a breather and ease back into a work rhythm.
So, the newsletter is back.
Recently, I also shared a few thoughts about this trip home and caring for family at a “出海去” community event. I’ll include some of that in this issue as well.
Right then, let’s get started.
How I Restarted My Life in 2025: Three Stories
When “stability” turns into a trap.
In 2025, I left a large company, navigated a family health crisis, and truly began building from scratch.
This isn’t a swashbuckling quest for freedom. It’s the discipline of rebuilding a system.
In this episode, I share three honest stories that changed my course —
about work, life, and the courage to stay clear‑headed in the midst of chaos.
If you’re at a crossroads too, I hope this gives you a measure of strength.
The train of midlife hasn’t stopped. It has simply switched tracks
Flying back to care for my dad, it hit me: this is a turning point. Ageing parents, hospitals, paperwork and bedside hours arrive all at once. On paper we’re more capable and earn more than in our twenties, yet the stakes are higher too. The real challenge is holding up both ends, caring upwards and downwards, while not dropping yourself.
These years have nudged me closer to Stoicism: first separate what I can and can’t control, then look for something to learn from the experience, even if it isn’t obvious yet. I thought this trip had no “meaning”. In time I realised it pulled me back to a simple question: what am I living for?
Those days in the ward made one thing crystal clear: my family in New Zealand is my anchor. Projects, achievements and titles I once clung to, however shiny, all take a bow eventually. Some end neatly. Some end abruptly. We do not get to script every scene.
So I’m calling this my “midlife calibration”. It forces a refocus: what is worth my time, money and care, and what isn’t. Close the taps that drain you. Keep what truly matters.
Midlife is not a crisis. It is a chance to set off again on a better line.
Can AI Make Design Faster?
AI has already proven it can make programming way more efficient. The real question is—can it do the same for design? Some people think it’s impossible. Others believe AI will take over design completely.
From what I’ve seen, the truth is somewhere in the middle. If you get comfortable with AI tools, you can definitely work three to five times faster while keeping the same quality.
Here’s a recent example from my own work. Our spoken English training app, JAM, is adding its most important feature yet: themed practice packs. Before, the app was pretty basic. With themed packs, it feels like a proper learning tool, which allows users to pick a topic and practice speaking around it.
This project took me about three days, around 20 hours of work. I handled everything:
• Research
• Building the course plan
• Designing the themed training content
• Creating the theme cards
• Finishing the UI design
If I hadn’t used AI, this would have been a team job. At least a UI designer, a content designer, and a copywriter working two to three weeks—and maybe even an education consultant. This time, I pulled it off solo.
The tricky part is knowing the details, just like in programming:
• When it makes sense to let AI generate images
• Which tool to use: ChatGPT, NanoBanana, or something else
• How to make sure the course content is accurate
• How to keep everything stable and consistent
That’s where experience comes in. And that’s also why I see a shift happening. Programmers who adapt to AI and know how to use it well are becoming more valuable, not less. I think the same applies to designers. The key is knowing when to step in yourself, and when to let AI take over.
ChatGPT Operator & Agents: The First Official Demo
I recently revisited OpenAI’s official video, Introduction to Operator & Agents.
There are tons of tutorials on YouTube already, but when it comes to brand-new features like this,
I always think the best way to understand them is to go straight to the source.
In this session, Sam Altman and three product leads demonstrate how the new Operator system allows ChatGPT to actually do things — like ordering food, booking tickets, or buying stuff online.
It’s not just about conversation anymore; it’s about execution.
A few key takeaways:
It runs on real integrations.
Each Operator needs access to external APIs or services — it’s not magic, it’s infrastructure.
It confirms before acting.
Whenever money or booking is involved, ChatGPT explicitly asks for user confirmation. That’s an important safety layer.
It feels more like an assistant than a chatbot.
You talk, it acts. The line between “AI chat” and “digital assistant” is getting thinner.
I once built a simple Operator myself that sent ChatGPT outputs straight into Google Sheets — it worked pretty well.
But after I stopped my Pro subscription, I shelved it.
Now I’m curious what others are using to create similar automated workflows today.
Original video:
👉 Introduction to Operator & Agents - YouTube (OpenAI)
Hello, I’m Bear—a product designer, UX mentor and an award‑winning bilingual podcast host, currently living in Auckland, New Zealand. I enjoy sharing insights from my work, life, and study, helping all of us grow together.
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