China Wants A.I. To Flourish, but Not at the Expense of Jobs(nytimes.com)
nytimes.com
China Wants A.I. To Flourish, but Not at the Expense of Jobs
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/business/china-ai-unemployment.html
5 comments
> For now, though, the focus appears to remain on encouraging companies themselves to hold off on layoffs.
I wonder how long that sustains. Is this going to create negative externalities that eventually cause the system to collectively bottom out? Or is this the more utilitarian alternative to UBI? You can debate both sides at this point.
I wonder how long that sustains. Is this going to create negative externalities that eventually cause the system to collectively bottom out? Or is this the more utilitarian alternative to UBI? You can debate both sides at this point.
As things stand, I think we should be pushing companies to focus more on using AI to increase revenue, rather than just cutting costs. I also hope that AI won’t end up replacing a significant portion of the workforce in the future.
A universal basic income might be the more suitable solution as a last resort, and by that point, ordinary people won’t have much leverage left.
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I think it would be best for both countries to learn from each other’s strengths; there’s no need to wait until things get really bad before implementing another Roosevelt's New Deal.
At the very least, the Chinese government has made its official stance clear—though you could interpret this as a way of saying, “Don’t make me clean up your mess.” Companies will weigh which side entails higher costs and actively explore other avenues, and large corporations won’t dare to act brazenly.
If AI becomes very powerful and poses a high risk of replacing ordinary workers’ jobs, this approach will be more effective. For now, however, the market itself may still be able to handle the situation.