China’s rapid deployment of artificial intelligence is already reshaping work in cities such as Wuhan, where a fleet of driverless taxis stopped in March, briefly restoring fares for human drivers.
The Guardian reported the local disruption against a broader rollout that has accelerated AI into services and industry while flexible employment has reportedly risen to 320 million, about 44% of the workforce, heightening displacement risk.
Taxi and ride‑hail drivers told the paper they have seen incomes fall as automated services scale, with fares down roughly 40% since Baidu’s Apollo Go launched in 2022.
Drivers protested in the city in 2024 and a Wuhan taxi company publicly criticised the policy allowing robotaxis on streets, the reporting says.
The paper also says court rulings have awarded compensation to white‑collar workers laid off after being replaced by AI, while state outlets warn employment rights face "new challenges".
Beijing is pushing adoption even as leaders try to blunt harm, President Xi called AI "an important driver for shared prosperity and common security" and authorities pledged to "comprehensively address the impact" on jobs.
That tug‑of‑war mirrors wider, state‑backed efforts to commercialise AI while funding retraining and using legal and policy tools to limit abrupt displacement.
"The key is for everyone to shift their mindset, see AI as a tool, and learn how to apply it in their future work," Cheng Wanhui told the paper.
