Full Breakdown
AI Rollout Fuels Labor Unease in China
7/31/2026, 10:14:38 PM
Robotaxi Glitch Underscores Worker Concerns
In March, a fleet of Baidu-operated driverless taxis called Apollo Go stalled abruptly on Wuhan streets, leaving passengers stranded for hours. The malfunction prompted authorities to remove the robotaxis for months of investigation. During the outage, 45-year-old taxi driver Yao Xinnong saw his earnings rebound after a 40 % decline since Apollo Go’s 2022 launch. Yao told the Guardian, noting the “huge” impact on his livelihood.
Expanding Gig Workforce and AI Deployment
China’s labour market is shifting toward flexible work. A domestic think-tank projects 320 million people in gig-type employment this year, up from 160 million in 2019—about 44 % of the national workforce. Ride-hailing apps have become a primary income source as traditional sectors like real estate and education falter. The rapid rollout of robotaxis, one of the country’s most visible AI applications, now threatens the earnings of these gig workers.
Official Responses and Policy Shifts
Selina Xu, a China technology analyst, described a “major vibe shift” toward pro-AI development after the success of the domestic model DeepSeek.
Voices from the Frontline
- “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
- “We have barely had time to react,” — Tian
