Nick Zhang

Nick Zhang ( (Zhāng Xiǎodōng); born 30 August 1963) is a Chinese writer specializing in philosophy and history of science, and chairman of the Wuzhen Institute. In 2017, his book A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence was awarded Top 10 Books of Southern Metropolis Daily. In 2018, he won Wu Wenjun Artificial Intelligence Science and Technology Award.

Education Zhang graduated from Tianjing University in 1985, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1988, and University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1992.

Career Zhang worked at Harvard and HP in his early years. He moved to Silicon Valley in the mid 1990s. In 2010, he invested and helped startups in internet and artificial intelligence area. He has been partner at VC firms. He founded Wuzhen Institute in 2016 in Wuzhen, near Shanghai.

Works

Zhang, N. (2021). A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence (2nd ed.). Beijing: Posts & Telecom Press. ISBN 9787115491718. Zhang, N. (2024). Understanding Turing. Beijing: Posts & Telecom Press. ISBN 9787115644053. Zhang, N. (2026). A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence (3rd ed.). Beijing: Posts & Telecom Press. ISBN 9787115694676. Zhang, N. (2026). "What is computation? And why Turing?" Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 41(1), 4–25.