The head of computer programmer Fei Zhaojun asked him whether artificial intelligence could soon replace humans in programming tasks. Two weeks later, he was fired from his job in Beijing along with about 160 of his colleagues.
This scenario is becoming more common as artificial intelligence changes, supported by government policies China’s huge job market. Some economists believe this could ultimately undermine the overall strength of the world’s second-largest economy.
The rapid adoption of AI in many fields, from computer programmers to script writing to physical tasks, is pushing people out of their jobs or making them fearful of them. China is there Leading the way in AI adoption as government Guidelines Encourage people and companies to use AI applications and robotics in all aspects of life, so people like Fei are figuring out how to adapt.
“There seems to be far less anti-AI sentiment in China (than elsewhere). Most people seem to be either positive, neutral or mildly interested in AI,” said Shujing He, a Beijing-based senior analyst at consulting and research firm Plenum.
“Individuals who fear being replaced, as well as those who have already left traditional workplaces, are often eager to experiment with AI-powered companies and independent ventures,” she said. “The interest is amazing.”
Until recently, Fei had doubted that AI could do the programming work perfectly, even though his superiors believed it was close enough.
“The job of mid-level programmers is essentially replaceable in most cases,” said Fei, 40. “Even if it’s a disaster that results in everyone being replaced, at that point you just have to use it the way everyone else is using it.”
Now he’s making short vlog-style videos during a career break and figuring out what he wants to do next. He doesn’t make a living from his videos, which are about the lives of ordinary people, but rather hopes that they could help others.
If you can’t beat them, join them
Du Qinchun, a part-time translator, helped train an AI model to produce translations. That gave him more work, at least temporarily.
“But it is true that wages in the industry have been cut by more than half compared to years ago,” said Du, who lives in the city of Chengdu in southwest China.
The trend is so evident that popular college programs in foreign languages have increasingly fallen out of favor as AI-powered translation tools become more widespread.
The share of Chinese industrial companies saying they use AI models and “agents” rose to 47.5% last year, from 9.6% in 2024, according to market research firm IDC.
“China’s dynamic open source model ecosystem is driving greater AI application innovation in industrial environments, gradually closing the gap between basic model capabilities and real business value creation,” said Yanze Du, senior research manager at IDC in Beijing.
Humanoid robots can now sort parcels in postal centers, for example, albeit on a small scale, thereby pushing the boundaries carry out more human tasks like traffic regulations and making coffee. Food delivery robots are also on the rise across the country, potentially threatening the livelihoods of millions of Chinese food delivery workers.
Generative AI is increasingly used for creation, production and distribution in China’s short film industry. According to Chinese media reports, the number of live-action short-form and vertical video series designed for mobile phones fell by about 75% in the first quarter of this year compared to last year.
“Tasks that once required specialized training can now be performed by almost anyone with access to AI tools. This is particularly evident in software development and multimedia creation,” said Plenum’s He. “As a result, workers whose roles are narrowly focused on these areas may be at greater risk of displacement.”
Meanwhile, a report from the International Labor Organization found that women are at greater risk of losing their jobs than men due to the use of AI, as they tend to work in fields more amenable to automation, such as electronics assembly, and remain underrepresented in science and technology.
AI has mixed effects on the slowing economy
As part of the Chinese “AI Plus” initiative and its Five-year plan By 2030, the government is pushing to adopt AI across many industries to gain an edge in China’s technology rivalry with the United States
“What’s special about China is that the government is really committed to spreading AI across the economy so that AI can move into other areas more quickly compared to other countries,” said Zilan Qian, a research fellow at the Oxford China Policy Lab.
China’s economic growth has already happened slowed down. Consumer spending has lagged, partly because people are spending less for fear of losing their jobs. There are additional problems that result from a ongoing downturn in the real estate market This has eroded household wealth.
China’s technology industry may be innovative and high in productivity, but it may not be creating many new jobs, said Eswar Prasad, a professor of economics and trade policy at Cornell University.
“AI is likely to increase productivity across the board, but could have serious disruptive effects on employment, exacerbating the problem of job growth and having a detrimental impact on social stability,” he said.
Similar to their U.S. rivals, Chinese tech giants have cut or restructured tens of thousands of them jobs, partly due to AI. The outlook for the broader labor market remains uncertain: the overall unemployment rate in China’s cities is about 5%, but unemployment for people aged 16 to 24 (excluding students) is about three times higher.
However, some experts say the unemployment rate could fall in the longer term as China’s population of 1.4 billion ages rapidly Shrinkage.
By 2050, China is expected to have fewer than two working-age adults supporting each retiree, compared with more than 2.5 in the U.S., said Xuenan Cao, a professor at San Francisco Bay University who focuses on technology and society.
“Automation could partially offset the decline in the workforce and is not a mere threat to it,” Cao said.
Some are using AI to find new ways to make a living
Wang Zhicheng, 32, often used AI for brainstorming and fact-checking in his previous job as a screenwriter for a company that produces 3D animated educational videos and interactive exercises for children.
After the parent company laid off about half of its 13 screenwriters, he decided to step down and strike out on his own, making illustrated children’s books.
While AI sometimes saved time on the scripts it generated, they often felt strange, Wang said. The episodes tended to be repetitive and formulaic, and the level of detail of knowledge varied widely.
“You can look at AI as a tool, just like (Microsoft) Word,” said Wang, who founded his own studio where he produces picture books and other creative works. “Humans are still the decision maker who will be selected or pursued by everything that AI creates.”
Yang Zheng, a high school chemistry teacher, said he doesn’t see AI as a threat to his job, although students use AI to help with their homework.
“Teachers can’t be there all the time,” he said. “It’s a good thing for students because it’s generated in real time, so students can ask follow-up questions,” said Yang, 29. “Often things go wrong, but things get better with time.”
____
Fu Ting reported from Washington. AP video producer Wu Jia in Beijing contributed to this story.