No Boss, No Money: The Raw Reality of a Chinese Gen-Z Freelancer
Jared is 28. He used to be an AI algorithm engineer at one of China's big tech firms — the kind of job millions compete for. He quit because he could not stand the 996 schedule: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. He traded the "iron rice bowl" for freelance work, and his life now, documented by the channel Inside China Lives, is a clear-eyed look at what that freedom actually costs. He and his…
Jared, a 28-year-old former AI algorithm engineer in China, left his high-pressure job due to the 996 schedule, working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week. Now, he lives with his wife in an illegal rooftop structure, paying monthly rent to the landlord. They make around ¥10,000 a month ($1,400) through freelance coding jobs, less than his previous income.
The rise of AI has caused a decline in the value of routine coding, leading to reduced freelance pay. Jared also works as a food delivery rider, making up to ¥50 an hour during rainy days. Despite the freedom of freelancing, he experiences laziness and procrastination, finding discipline a resource to be "burned." Jared has met other delivery riders facing significant risks, such as a man who lost a leg in a traffic accident.
He believes he would choose full-time delivery over a job at a big tech company, as the freedom offers a better quality of life. However, the video concludes with an unresolved note, emphasizing that freedom without a financial safety net can be precarious, and the couple is trying to conceive, potentially facing additional financial challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
