{
  "id": 3042170,
  "title": "His boss asked if AI could replace human coders. Two weeks later, he and 160 colleagues were laid off in Beijing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/his-boss-asked-if-ai-could-replace-human-coders-two-weeks-later-he",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-24T14:16:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/08/24/china-ai-jobs-workers-layoffs-coders/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fei Zhaojun, a 40-year-old computer programmer, was shocked to learn that artificial intelligence posed a threat to his job. Two weeks after his boss asked if AI could replace human coders, Fei and roughly 160 of his colleagues were laid off from their positions in Beijing. This trend is becoming increasingly prevalent as AI becomes more deeply integrated into China's economy, driven by government policies encouraging its widespread use.\n\nSome economists believe that AI's rapid adoption could ultimately weaken China's economy, the world's second-largest. However, in contrast to other countries, there appears to be less resistance to AI in China, with most people either positive, neutral or mildly interested in AI. Fei himself was once skeptical about AI's ability to perform programming tasks perfectly, but he now acknowledges that many mid-level coding jobs are at risk of becoming replaceable.\n\nAs a result, Fei has turned to creating short video content about ordinary people's lives to sustain himself while he figures out his next move. Meanwhile, other professionals, such as Du Qinchun, a part-time translator, are adapting to the changing job market by leveraging AI to find new work. The trend is so pronounced that the share of Chinese industrial enterprises using AI models has skyrocketed from 9.6% in 2024 to 47.5% last year.\n\nAI is not only reshaping job opportunities but also the production of short dramas, with live-action series taking a dramatic 75% drop in the first quarter of the year. Additionally, AI-powered robots are being used in various industries, such as parcel sorting, directing traffic, and making coffee. These developments have raised concerns about the potential for job displacement, particularly among workers in specialized roles.\n\nWhile AI's impact on the Chinese economy is still unfolding, there are concerns about its potential to exacerbate unemployment and social instability, given China's aging and shrinking population. However, some experts believe that unemployment rates could eventually decline as the population ages and shrinks.",
  "summary": "China is pushing AI across its economy, even as economists warn automation could worsen an already difficult job market.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}