Wang Lei (R), founder of a tech startup, talks with a fellow entrepreneur at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2026.

The widespread rise of AI is modifying China's labor market in ways that go far beyond job replacement or creation. It has generated new professions, lowered the threshold for starting a business, and empowered employees to upgrade their skills in a bid to stay competitive.

The OPC model is witnessing rapid development in China, fueled by the coding capabilities of AI models and support from local governments, resulting in a greater diversity of products. This shift mirrors a broader evolution within China's professional landscape. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Wang Peng (R), founder of a tech startup, talks with a fellow entrepreneur at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Zuo Binbin (R), founder of a tech startup, visits Jiangsu Investor Center at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Wang Lei, founder of a tech startup, poses for a photo with an AI-powered voice recognition mouse he developed at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Zuo Binbin, founder of a tech startup, briefs on a multi-modal psychological assessment system at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Gu Yanyan (L), founder of a startup company, talks with a fellow entrepreneur at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Zuo Binbin, founder of a tech startup, works at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Gu Yanyan, founder of a startup company, works at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Wang Lei, founder of a tech startup, introduces his self-developed products at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Wang Peng (R), founder of a tech startup, works at a one-person-company (OPC) community in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 12, 2026. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)