There is certainly is a sense of excitement in the air for how artificial intelligence might shape the world for the better. But many experts are also concerned about how the advance of AI could affect China's employment market. One of the key questions shadowing the sector these days is will AI and other leading technologies create more jobs than they destroy? That of course depends on who you ask. Our Wang Xiaozhou takes a look.  

Isaac Asimov, arguably the greatest sci-fi writer ever, predicted in 1985 that artificial intelligence and robots would cause massive tech-induced unemployment. His prediction before the age of the internet still stands relevant in 2018.

Sequoia Capital and China Development Research Foundation have jointly released a white paper on how AI will reshape the future of China's labor market. The white paper zoomed in on the importance of investing in human capital, saying it has to be done at an early stage.

NEIL SHEN, FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER SEQUOIA CHINA "AI will greatly free humans from repetitive jobs and cultivate creative minds. This means work will shift from 'labor-centric' to 'innovation-driven'. More people will devote their time to scientific discovery and technological innovation. They will be able to dedicate more efforts into enriching the world." 

But are we ready enough or educated enough for more creative jobs? Before we are ready, the cruel fact is, skill gaps lead to income gaps. The Hugo Award is a literary prize for best science fiction and fantasy works. Its winner Hao Jingfang warned of structural challenges to China's labor market. Just returning from a research tour, she found that subtle changes are already underway in the job markets of China's coastal towns.

HAO JINGFANG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR CHINA DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH FOUNDATION "Automation is just starting to rise in China, but early signs of its progress are already obvious. We went to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong--three of the most advanced areas of China's manufacturing industry. We believe major changes in society and the economy will first begin in these advanced areas and subsequently could spread fast to the rest of the country." 

WANG XIAOZHOU BEIJING "Though the application of AI is still at its early stage. Some analysts believe major professional displacement will occur by 2030. But it's hard to track the pace of technology development, and it's highly likely, that the changes would happen sooner rather than later. Wang Xiaozhou, CGTN, Beijing."