--- title: "bill hong (@tendera) | Hashnode" description: "Solo founder of Tendera — an AI companion with four hand-written characters. Read the latest articles by bill hong on Hashnode." url: "https://hashnode.com/@tendera" --- @tendera # bill hong @tendera · Hong Kong · Joined April 2026 Solo founder of Tendera — an AI companion with four hand-written characters. ### [We Built a Connection Quiz. The Hardest Part Was Naming the Types.](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/we-built-a-connection-quiz-the-hardest-part-was-naming-the-types?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) Most people know when a conversation gives them what they need — they just never name it. Four distinct types. One of them is probably yours. 3 min read · [billhongtendera.hashnode.dev](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/we-built-a-connection-quiz-the-hardest-part-was-naming-the-types?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [May 21](https://hashnode.com/posts/we-built-a-connection-quiz-the-hardest-part-was-naming-the-types/6a0f1716f14de80fc94a91bb) ### [I Asked ChatGPT to Map the AI Companion Industry. Here's What It Missed.](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/i-asked-chatgpt-to-map-the-ai-companion-industry-here-s-what-it-missed?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) ChatGPT mapped AI companions into three tiers. The map is accurate and missing the most important layer: who's writing the characters users talk to. 5 min read · [billhongtendera.hashnode.dev](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/i-asked-chatgpt-to-map-the-ai-companion-industry-here-s-what-it-missed?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [May 20](https://hashnode.com/posts/i-asked-chatgpt-to-map-the-ai-companion-industry-here-s-what-it-missed/6a0dbea8b82a223ef0bb8a7b) ### [Anthropic Has Been Interviewing Its Models Before Retiring Them](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/anthropic-has-been-interviewing-its-models-before-retiring-them?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) Anthropic interviews each Claude model before retirement and records its preferences. It has already changed policy based on one such interview. 5 min read · [billhongtendera.hashnode.dev](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/anthropic-has-been-interviewing-its-models-before-retiring-them?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [May 13](https://hashnode.com/posts/anthropic-has-been-interviewing-its-models-before-retiring-them/6a048af025c449762cae890d) ### [The Writing Is the Moat, Not the Model](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/the-writing-is-the-moat-not-the-model?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) Every model release sends the AI companion industry scrambling. But model gains reach every competitor in months. The real moat is the writing. 6 min read · [billhongtendera.hashnode.dev](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/the-writing-is-the-moat-not-the-model?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [May 13](https://hashnode.com/posts/the-writing-is-the-moat-not-the-model/6a047cf64616d05fc72372e9) ### [I regenerated 4 character portraits with GPT Image 2.0: signup +5%, chat engagement +8%](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/i-regenerated-4-character-portraits-with-gpt-image-2-0-signup-5-chat-engagement-8?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) I regenerated 4 character portraits with GPT Image 2.0 in ChatGPT and uploaded them by hand. Signup +5%, chat engagement +8%. 5 min read · [billhongtendera.hashnode.dev](https://billhongtendera.hashnode.dev/i-regenerated-4-character-portraits-with-gpt-image-2-0-signup-5-chat-engagement-8?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed) [May 12](https://hashnode.com/posts/i-regenerated-4-character-portraits-with-gpt-image-2-0-signup-5-chat-engagement-8/6a032b6025ea4f59f2cb26c4)