Workers in China worry over being replaced as they adapt to the growing impact of AI on jobs

HONG KONG (AP) — Workers in China are growing concerned about being replaced by artificial intelligence as the technology becomes increasingly integrated into the country's workforce. Computer programmer Fei Zhaojun was laid off from his job in Beijing, along with 160 of his colleagues, after his boss questioned whether AI could soon replace human coders.

This is an increasingly common scenario, as AI, supported by government policies, reshapes China's massive job market. Rapid adoption of AI in various fields, from coding to translation and physical tasks, is pushing people out of their jobs or leaving them fearful of potential job loss. China is at the forefront of AI adoption, with government policies encouraging widespread use of AI applications and robotics.

Most people in China seem either positive, neutral, or mildly interested in AI, according to Shujing He, a senior analyst at Plenum. Many displaced workers are experimenting with AI-enabled businesses and independent ventures. Fei, a 40-year-old programmer, has turned to creating vlog-style short videos during his career break, hoping his content may help others.

Du Qinchun, a part-time translator, has found temporary work by training an AI model for translations, although he notes that pay in the industry has been cut by more than half compared to previous years. AI is rapidly being adopted in various industries, with the share of Chinese industrial enterprises using AI models and agents jumping to 47.5% last year from 9.6% in 2024.

Humanoid robots are now sorting parcels in postal centers, and food delivery robots are gaining popularity, potentially threatening the livelihoods of millions of food delivery workers. The number of live-action short and vertical video series has fallen by about 75% in the first quarter of the year, as generative AI is increasingly used for creation, production, and distribution in China's short drama industry.

Women face higher risks of losing employment due to AI use, as they tend to work in areas more suitable for automation and remain underrepresented in science and technology. Under China's "AI Plus" initiative and its five-year plan through 2030, the government aims to infuse AI across many industries, seeking an edge in China's technology rivalry with the U.S.