Workers in China worry over being replaced with AI: 'Everyone else is using it'

In Beijing, China, a computer programmer named Fei Zhaojun was asked by his boss whether artificial intelligence could soon replace human coders. Just two weeks later, Fei was laid off — along with about 160 of his coworkers. His story is becoming more and more common across China, where AI is quickly changing the way millions of people work. Some economists worry this could hurt China's economy in the long run.

China's government is actively encouraging businesses and everyday people to use AI tools and robots in almost every part of life. This push is part of a plan called 'AI Plus,' which aims to spread AI across many industries by 2030. Because the government supports AI so strongly, experts say China may be adopting it faster than most other countries in the world. One researcher said AI may enter different fields in China more quickly than elsewhere.

The rapid spread of AI is affecting many different kinds of jobs. Computer programmers, translators, script writers, and even delivery workers are feeling the pressure. Some have already lost their jobs, while others are afraid they might be next. Analysts say workers whose jobs are narrowly focused in one skill area face the greatest risk.

Fei, who is 40 years old, said he used to doubt that AI could do programming work well enough to replace people. But his bosses disagreed, and in the end, he was let go. Now he spends his time making short videos about ordinary people's lives while figuring out his next career move. He is not earning money from the videos yet, but he hopes they can help others going through the same thing.

A part-time translator named Du Qinchun has been helping train an AI model to do translation work. That has brought him some extra work for now, but he says the pay in his field has dropped by more than half compared to a few years ago. Because AI translation tools have gotten so good, fewer students are even choosing to study foreign languages in college anymore. This shift shows how quickly AI can change not just jobs, but entire career paths.

According to a research firm called IDC, the share of Chinese companies using AI tools jumped from 9.6 percent in 2024 to 47.5 percent just one year later. That is a huge leap in a very short time. Robots are also showing up in physical jobs once done only by humans. Humanoid robots — machines built to look and move like people — can now sort packages, direct traffic, and even make coffee.

Food delivery robots are spreading across China, which could threaten the jobs of millions of delivery workers. AI is also changing the entertainment industry, as it is now being used to write, produce, and share short videos and dramas. Reports say the number of live-action short video series dropped by about 75 percent in early this year compared to the year before. Much of that work is now being done by AI instead of people.

A report from the International Labor Organization found that women face a higher risk of losing jobs to AI than men do. This is because women are more likely to work in jobs that machines can automate, such as assembling electronics. Women are also less represented in science and technology, where new AI jobs are being created. This gap could make inequality worse if nothing is done to address it.

Some economists are worried about what all of this means for China's overall economy. The country's growth has been slowing, and people are spending less money because they fear losing their jobs. A professor from Cornell University warned that AI could have a 'severe disruptive effect on employment' and harm social stability. China's youth unemployment rate is already about three times the national average for young people not in school.

However, some experts see a positive side to AI. China's population is aging and shrinking, and by 2050 there may be fewer than two working adults for every retired person. In that case, robots and AI could help fill in the gaps left by a smaller workforce. One professor said automation could 'partially offset a shrinking workforce rather than being purely a threat to it.'

Wang Zhicheng, 32, used to write scripts for a company that made educational videos for children. After his company laid off about half of its writers, he left to start his own studio making illustrated children's books. He says AI can be a useful tool, but that humans are still needed to make the important choices about what ideas are worth creating. 'Humans are still the decision makers,' he said.

High school chemistry teacher Yang Zheng, 29, says he does not feel threatened by AI at all. He thinks it is a good thing for students, since they can use it to ask questions and get help at any time. He admits AI sometimes gets things wrong, but believes it keeps improving over time. For him, AI is a helper in the classroom, not a replacement for teachers.