Anxiety is mounting among employees at major Chinese tech firms as rumors of significant job cuts circulate. At Meituan, a leading food delivery company, concerns have intensified following claims on social media that up to half of its product roles could be eliminated by June, alongside reductions in other departments. Although Meituan has denied these rumors, the speculation highlights a growing unease within the industry. For years, the term “optimization” has been dreaded by tech workers, often signaling layoffs disguised as organizational restructuring. This year, the fear is compounded by the possibility of jobs being replaced by artificial intelligence. Companies like Baidu and Xiaomi are reportedly also reducing their workforce, according to insiders and industry recruiters.
Are China’s tech workers at risk of being replaced by AI?
