Computer programmer Fei Zhaojun recently lost his job in Beijing, along with around 160 colleagues. His employer questioned if artificial intelligence might soon replace human coders. This scenario is becoming more common as AI influences China’s labor market, a trend backed by government policies. Some economists worry this could affect China’s economic strength, the world’s second-largest economy.
AI is rapidly entering fields including computer programming, scriptwriting, and manual tasks. This trend is causing job losses and anxiety among workers. In China, government policies encourage AI and robotics use, prompting workers like Fei to adapt. According to Shujing He, a senior analyst at Plenum, anti-AI sentiment is less prevalent in China, with many people being neutral or mildly interested in AI.
Individuals displaced or fearing job loss due to AI often explore AI-related ventures. Fei, once skeptical of AI’s programming capabilities, now creates vlog-style videos during a career break, although not for income yet. Similarly, Du Qinchun, a part-time translator, helps train AI models for translation, although the industry’s pay has significantly decreased.
Market reports show a significant increase in AI usage among Chinese industrial enterprises, with figures from IDC rising to 47.5% last year from 9.6% in 2024. Yanze Du, an IDC senior research manager, credits China’s open-source model ecosystem for this growth.
AI applications are expanding, with humanoid robots sorting parcels and potentially replacing human tasks like traffic direction and coffee-making. Food delivery robots are also emerging, threatening numerous delivery jobs. In multimedia creation, AI enables tasks that previously required specialized skills, affecting roles in software development and content production.
The International Labor Organization reports that women face higher job displacement risks due to AI, particularly in automation-prone areas like electronics assembly. China’s “AI Plus” initiative aims to integrate AI across various industries by 2030, seeking an advantage in the tech rivalry with the U.S., according to Zilan Qian from Oxford China Policy Lab.
China’s slow economic growth is attributed to factors like cautious consumer spending and a downturn in the housing market. Despite high productivity, China’s tech industry may not produce many new jobs. Eswar Prasad from Cornell University notes that AI could disrupt employment, affecting social stability.
Like in the U.S., Chinese tech companies have cut jobs partly due to AI, contributing to job market uncertainties. China’s urban unemployment is around 5%, while youth unemployment (ages 16 to 24) is three times higher, excluding students. Experts suggest that as China’s population ages and shrinks, AI might counteract workforce shortages.
Wang Zhicheng, a former scriptwriter, and Yang Zheng, a high school chemistry teacher, illustrate different responses to AI. Wang uses AI for creative work independently after layoffs, while Yang sees AI as a helpful tool for students, despite occasional inaccuracies.
Fu Ting from Washington and AP video producer Wu Jia in Beijing contributed to this report.
Leave a Reply