Rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and robots is reshaping China’s labour market, with workers reporting job losses and growing anxiety about further displacement. In Beijing, computer programmer Fei Zhaojun was among about 160 employees dismissed two weeks after his employer asked whether AI could soon perform coding work instead of people.

AI use is expanding beyond programming into scriptwriting, translation, media and physical work, creating uncertainty over jobs and incomes. Robots are also increasingly being used for food delivery, raising questions about the livelihoods of millions of delivery workers. The Chinese government is promoting wider AI deployment through its “AI Plus” initiative and its plans through 2030, aiming to improve productivity and economic capacity.

Some economists warn that while AI can raise productivity, it could put heavy pressure on employment, particularly in jobs limited to specific skills. China’s overall urban unemployment rate is about 5 percent, while unemployment among people aged 16 to 24 is nearly three times higher. Experts also say automation may help address future labour shortages as the population ages and the working-age population declines. Some displaced workers are using AI to start businesses or work independently.