Chinese Company Boss Promises to Keep Workers' Jobs Safe from Robots

JD.com is one of China's largest online shopping companies. It employs many different types of workers, from delivery drivers to store workers to computer experts. The company is testing many new technologies that don't need human workers. These include warehouses run by robots, delivery drones, and self-driving trucks.

Instead of firing workers when machines take over their jobs, JD.com plans to teach them new skills. The company has built more than 80 training centers across China. At these centers, workers learn how to fix and take care of the new automated machines. This way, workers can keep their jobs by doing different tasks.

China's government is pushing companies to use more artificial intelligence and robots. However, officials also worry about keeping people employed as the economy slows down. Many young people in China are having trouble finding jobs. This creates a difficult balance between using new technology and keeping workers happy.

A Chinese court recently made an important decision about this issue. In April, judges ruled that companies cannot fire workers just to replace them with AI systems. The Chinese government has also created new laws requiring companies to retrain workers before firing them. Few other countries have made similar laws to protect workers from being replaced by technology.