China Pledges People-First AI Safeguards as Flexible Workforce Swells to 320 Million
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 31
China Pledges People-First AI Safeguards as Flexible Workforce Swells to 320 Million
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 31
Summary
Beijing has pledged to address AI’s impact on employment, with Xi Jinping and recent policy guidance stressing “shared prosperity” and a more people-first approach to deployment.
That shift follows rising backlash as AI spreads rapidly through a fragile labor market, where flexible employment is projected to reach 320 million people this year—about 44% of the workforce.
In Wuhan, Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis became a flashpoint after a March malfunction stranded riders for hours; local taxi drivers say their income had already fallen about 40% since the service launched in 2022.
Job fears now extend beyond gig work: recent court rulings awarded compensation to white-collar employees replaced by AI, while film workers and other freelancers say rates and opportunities are shrinking.
Analysts say China’s tight state control could let it cushion AI-driven layoffs faster than the US, but workers interviewed said protections are lagging behind the technology’s advance.