Young Chinese turn to AI to launch one-person companies amid job anxiety

Young professionals in China are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to launch “one-person companies,” as concerns over job security and age discrimination reshape career paths.

The trend comes amid long-standing anxieties around the so-called “curse of 35,” a term widely used in China to describe limited career prospects for workers once they reach their mid-30s.

Many young people are now seeking alternatives, using AI tools to handle tasks ranging from marketing and design to customer service and content creation.

“The one-person company is a product of the AI era,” said Karen Dai, founder of Shanghai-based SoloNest, which hosts networking events for solo entrepreneurs.

She noted that advances in AI have significantly lowered the barriers to starting a business independently.

At a recent event in Shanghai, around 20 aspiring entrepreneurs gathered to exchange ideas on building solo ventures.

Among them was Wang Tianyi, 26, who left his job as a product manager and now earns up to CNY 40,000 ($5,800) a month producing AI-generated commercials for clients.

He believes such businesses will become a “major trend” due to their efficiency and scalability.

On social media, discussions about age-related workplace pressure remain widespread.

“At 35 years old, there’s like this invisible line,” Dai said, describing how companies may reassess employees as they grow older.

For some, the shift toward AI entrepreneurship is driven by necessity. Wei Xin, 34, anticipated that her role in document review would eventually be replaced by automation.

After returning from studies in the United States, she began exploring AI tools such as Google Gemini before pivoting to social media content creation.

“There’s a bit of AI anxiety,” Wei said. “If I don’t use it, I might soon be eliminated.”

Local governments are also backing the movement. In Suzhou, officials have pledged to train more than 10,000 individuals in AI-powered solo entrepreneurship by 2028, supported by funding of around CNY 700 million ($100 million).

Meanwhile, Chengdu has introduced subsidies of up to CNY 20,000 for graduates starting AI-driven ventures.

Analysts say such policies align with Beijing’s broader push for technological self-reliance while offering a cost-effective way to address youth unemployment, which remains high.

According to estimates, roughly one in six people aged 16 to 24 in China are currently without work.