“The most urgent needs are fundamental scientists and cross-disciplinary experts,“ said Wang Liang, a researcher from the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “They are crucial for advancing home-grown AI chip development and original algorithms while also accelerating AI's adoption across industries.“

　　The DeepSeek phenomenon has sparked an AI race among China's tech giants, including Alibaba and Tencent. At the same time, their models are being rapidly adopted across government services, manufacturing, healthcare, consumer goods and urban management, creating an unprecedented demand for professionals who can blend AI expertise with industry-specific knowledge.

　　AI only became an official undergraduate major in China in 2019. Currently, most AI professionals transition from backgrounds in computer science, software engineering, electronics, or mechanical engineering. These fields require a strong foundation in advanced linear algebra, probability theory, statistics and programming skills.

　　China's higher education system has introduced AI programs at over 500 universities, marking one of the fastest disciplinary expansions in its history.

　　Leading Chinese universities such as Tsinghua University, Wuhan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have announced plans to expand their enrollments in AI and related interdisciplinary fields to meet the growing demand for talent.

　　Industry reports indicate that by 2030, China is expected to face a shortage of 4 million AI professionals.

　　AI entrepreneurs are urging working professionals to upskill in AI. “AI competency must become a core citizen skill,“ said Liu Qingfeng, chairman of iFLYTEK. “Free AI training initiatives targeting low-income and disadvantaged groups should also be considered.“