Shenzhen: Keeping Pace with the AI Revolution

Special report

For years, siblings Fang Zhiyin and Fang Jingmin worked tirelessly to keep their family jewelry company alive in an industry facing increasing pressure from changing consumer preferences and intensifying competition. The traditional models that had once sustained their business were no longer enough to meet modern demands for personalized designs and rapid turnaround.

Their search for a solution led them to an AI-powered jewelry design course offered by the Cuizhu neighborhood committee in Shenzhen’s Luohu District, Guangdong province. The program was designed to equip professionals with AI tools to enhance competitiveness and improve career prospects.

After completing the course in March, the Fangs quickly realized the transformative impact of AI on their operations.

“The changes brought by AI-assisted jewelry design have far exceeded our expectations,” said Fang Jingmin, general manager of R&D at Shenzhen Baibaohui Gold Jewelry Co. AI has allowed them to slash design times by 80 percent—what once took several days now takes minutes.

With AI image recognition, the company can instantly analyze client-submitted reference images to understand design preferences, leading to a 35 percent increase in customer satisfaction. Real-time 3D rendering gives customers immediate previews of their customized pieces, halving decision-making time and boosting the concept-to-product conversion rate by 28 percent.

“In the age of AI, it’s not the technology itself that makes businesses obsolete, but the refusal to adapt,” said Fang Zhiyin, general manager of the company’s commodities department.

Their story is emblematic of a broader trend in Shenzhen, where entrepreneurs and professionals are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving economy. Their embrace of AI aligns with Shenzhen’s long-standing reputation as a hub of innovation.

From fishing village to tech hub

Since China’s reform and opening-up policy began in the late 1970s, Shenzhen has transformed from a small fishing village into a vibrant metropolis and global technology center. As of 2024, the city hosts more than 25,000 national-level high-tech companies—an average of 12 per square kilometer, the highest concentration in China.

In March 2025, Shenzhen rolled out a strategic action plan to accelerate its development as an AI pioneer. The goal: to boost the number of AI enterprises to over 3,000 and foster more than 10 AI unicorns (startups valued at $1 billion or more) by 2026. The city also targets an annual industrial output growth rate of over 20 percent.

Meeting these ambitions requires not only innovation but also a workforce prepared for the changes AI brings. In response, Shenzhen has launched training initiatives across neighborhoods, offering programs that range from foundational AI skills to specialized vocational training.

Shuibei Night School, in the Cuizhu neighborhood, has become a key player. On weekday evenings, its classrooms fill with professionals from all walks of life—finance, e-commerce, accounting, dentistry—eager to gain AI literacy.

Zhao Bin, the school’s principal, outlines the program’s three-fold mission: help individuals adapt to AI-enhanced workplaces, cultivate new professions like AI tutors, and mitigate job displacement by empowering workers to adopt flexible employment models or launch entrepreneurial ventures.

“The enthusiasm is overwhelming,” Zhao said. “Many people want to learn AI but don’t know where to begin. We provide them a starting point.”

Launched in August 2024, Shuibei Night School has already hosted more than 120 AI-related courses this year, attracting nearly 3,000 attendees. Around 10 percent of participants have since found new employment or launched businesses.

The school employs 10 AI tutors, two of them full-time, including university professors and industry veterans. Course offerings include AI-based video editing, image design, marketing, jewelry design, and even microdrama production. About 60 percent of courses are free, while paid ones cost only about 30 percent of the standard market rate.

Citywide, the Shenzhen Federation of Trade Unions is also facilitating AI training, hosting community-based sessions on new media, livestreaming, office automation, and humanoid robot applications. The federation has even launched competitions for AI tutors and industrial robot operators.

The demand for AI instruction extends to formal education as well. Zhou Guihang, an IT instructor at Shenzhen No. 3 Vocational School of Technology, teaches classes on AI and large language models every Sunday. Students learn to apply AI in their industries—from automating payroll to enhancing navigation systems in shopping malls and tourist areas.

“The students’ commitment is remarkable,” Zhou said. “They attend full-day sessions on Sundays, and many stay after class to ask questions.”

Zhou sees AI training as vital not just for individuals, but for businesses as a whole. He warns that companies stuck in traditional workflows risk falling behind.

“AI allows employees to amplify productivity and reduce costs. Without that knowledge, firms risk stagnation,” he said. With tools like large language models, even those from non-technical backgrounds can now write basic code and solve specific work challenges.

A global trend with local momentum

According to the World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs Report 2025,” 86 percent of global employers anticipate AI will transform their businesses by 2030. The survey of 1,000 employers across 22 industries and 55 economies found that 50 percent plan to restructure their operations around AI, and two-thirds intend to hire talent with AI-specific skills. Meanwhile, 40 percent expect to reduce their workforce in roles where AI can handle tasks.

The report forecasts high growth in technology-driven jobs, including AI and machine learning specialists, fintech engineers, big data analysts, and application developers.

Cao Zhongxiong, director of the digital economy and global strategy department at Shenzhen-based China Development Institute, says the shift is already underway. “Enterprise training used to focus on finance and workflow. Now it’s about technology adoption,” he said.

Cao credits platforms like DeepSeek for making digital transformation accessible to small and medium enterprises. As more AI models are integrated into sectors ranging from healthcare to logistics, training becomes a key enabler of adoption.

“Many individuals are using AI to pivot careers or improve business performance. Training is no longer just about certification—it’s about strategic growth,” Cao added.

He believes Shenzhen’s rapid technological rise necessitates a corresponding investment in human capital. He urges major players like Tencent and Huawei to lead by example, guiding their supply chains through AI integration and workforce training.

“Training must be embedded in business strategy. Leading companies need to help partners master tools like Harmony OS and the Hunyuan language model,” he said. The days of training as a stepping stone to a static career are fading. Today, it’s a launchpad for reinvention.

New paths, new lives

Zhu Chaoqun, 42, illustrates this point vividly. Once an IT director at a top firm, Zhu grew increasingly anxious as his field evolved beyond his expertise. His discovery of AI training courses opened the door to a new path: becoming an AI tutor.

Thanks to his tech background, the transition was smooth. Today, he works part-time at Shuibei Night School, teaching AI while enjoying a better work-life balance.

“I used to worry constantly about job security. Now, I look forward to each day,” Zhu said. “This career shift gave me a new sense of purpose.”

As Shenzhen continues its march toward a high-tech future, stories like Zhu’s are becoming increasingly common. The city’s investment in AI training is not just about keeping pace with global trends—it’s about empowering its people to shape the future.

With AI tools becoming more sophisticated and accessible, and with public understanding of their utility deepening, the demand for training is set to surge.

In this evolving landscape, one thing is clear: the ability to adapt and innovate has never been more valuable. Shenzhen, with its tech-driven spirit and people-first approach to education, is leading the way.

Adapted from original reporting by Zhou Mo and Li Bingcun, China Daily