Beijing: China’s rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming workplaces across industries, improving productivity while raising concerns over job displacement, particularly among young workers, according to a report by Quartz.
As Beijing pushes to integrate AI across almost every sector of the economy, workers ranging from software developers to delivery personnel are increasingly experiencing the impact of automation.
Programmers among early casualties
Beijing-based programmer Fei Zhaojun is among those affected by the shift. According to the report, Fei lost his job after his employer began examining whether AI could perform coding tasks traditionally handled by human programmers.
Fei was reportedly among around 160 employees laid off during a workforce reduction. He said many mid-level programming positions could become replaceable as AI systems continue to improve.
After losing his job, Fei moved away from the technology sector and began creating short-form videos while considering his next career move.
AI adoption accelerates
The scale of AI adoption in China has increased sharply. According to data cited from market intelligence firm IDC, fewer than 10 per cent of Chinese industrial enterprises were using AI models and agents in 2024. The figure rose to nearly half of industrial businesses the following year.
Companies are increasingly turning to AI and automation to improve efficiency, reduce costs and perform tasks previously carried out by human workers.
Robots enter everyday workplaces
The transformation is also becoming visible in daily life. Humanoid robots are being deployed in logistics operations, including parcel-sorting facilities, while autonomous machines are being used for tasks such as traffic management.
Food-delivery robots are also becoming increasingly common in Chinese cities. Their growing use has raised questions about the long-term employment prospects of millions of people working in delivery and related services.
Youth employment under pressure
The rapid expansion of AI comes at a difficult time for China’s young workforce. While the country’s overall urban unemployment rate is around 5 per cent, unemployment among people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education is significantly higher.
Economists and analysts have warned that increased automation could add to the employment challenges faced by young workers if new jobs fail to emerge quickly enough.
Productivity gains versus job losses
AI is expected to generate significant productivity gains and contribute to economic growth. However, economists caution that a rapid transition could also create social and economic pressures if large numbers of workers are displaced without adequate opportunities for reskilling and re-employment.
China’s experience is therefore emerging as an important example of the broader global debate over AI, automation and the future of work.
