When AI Takes Your Job, Who Pays Your Bills? China Is Starting to Answer.

China is beginning to plan for AI’s impact on workers. Every government should be answering the same questions: who gets the benefits, and who pays for the transition?

My position on AI is simple: I support its development. If technology can increase productivity and free people from repetitive, exhausting, or dangerous work, that should be a good thing.

If people could spend less time doing mechanical tasks and more time creating, doing research, making art, being with their families, or simply enjoying life, I would welcome that. Surely human life should involve more than going to work, paying bills, and doing it all again tomorrow.

But getting from today to that future raises a question: if AI replaces your job before society has made arrangements for you to live without it, how do you survive?

On October 23, China released a national policy document addressing AI development and employment. It calls for reducing the impact of job displacement, assessing employment risks, and preparing response plans. The government is putting technological development and workers’ livelihoods into the same policy discussion.

For readers who want the full details, I’…