China’s Biggest Weakness on AI¶
When a state can credibly promise that labor displacement will not mean destitution, workers and their representatives are more likely to accept technological change. But since China can promise no such thing, its lack of a robust welfare state has emerged as a fundamental weakness in the broader AI race.
OXFORD—In late April, a Chinesecourt ruledthat an AI firm could not legally dismiss an employee simply because his role had been automated. Shortly thereafter, Chinese regulators reportedlysuspendednew autonomous-vehicle licenses nationwide in response to a massrobotaxi failurein Wuhan, a city where cab drivers had long petitioned authorities to slow the technology’s rollout. And all the while, Chinesestate mediahas been criticizing companies for contemplating AI-driven layoffs, arguing that they havea duty to protect theiremployees.