Tech firms enhance efforts to draw AI talent

<article><section data-type="rtext"><img data-alt="AI Photo: VCG" src="//img.huanqiucdn.cn/dp/api/files/imageDir/c459f86608350cf2bee44d35b28901c2.jpeg?imageView2/2/w/750" />With China's rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, demand for skilled AI professionals has surged as major Chinese internet and tech companies ramp up their efforts to attract AI talent. Chinese spatial design firm Manycore Tech, one of six Hangzhou-based tech start-ups known as the "Six Little Dragons," alongside DeepSeek, Game Science and robot maker Unitree Robotics, has launched a Tech Stars Young Talent Program, with the highest annual salary of 1 million yuan ($137,617), to attract young talent, according to Shanghai Observer. The firm is seeking to fill 30 new campus recruit and intern positions across various fields, including multimodal models, AIGC, Sim2Real, embodied intelligence, AI-driven graphics engines, 3D algorithms and intelligent space design, Zhang Xiaoqing, the company's marketing director, told the Global Times on Thursday. "Within a week of resuming work after the Spring Festival holidays, we received over 10,000 resumes on online recruitment platform BOSS Zhipin. Some of our co-founders will also be involved in the recruitment process," said Zhang. Unitree also confirmed to the Global Times on Thursday that the company has opened several positions for social and campus recruitment. Among them, the monthly salaries for generative AI engineers and deep reinforcement learning engineers range from 40,000 to 70,000 yuan. Previously,DeepSeek started a rapid expansion, as it made high-paying job offers for both fresh graduates and experienced professionals to attract top-tier talent, according to a China Fund News report on February 4. Meanwhile, Chinese tech giant Alibaba has also launched a large-scale recruitment drive for its AI To Customer business, with hundreds of positions available. Ninety percent of the positions are related to AI, primarily focused on AI model development and product research and development, the Securities Times reported on Wednesday. As the global technology competition intensifies, it becomes clear that the competition is not solely about advanced machines or cutting-edge technologies, and instead, it is fundamentally a battle of human intellect and innovation, said Tian Feng, former dean of Chinese AI software giant SenseTime's Intelligence Industry Research Institute. The recent launch of DeepSeek has sent ripples through the tech community. The 180-plus members who made up the Chinese AI team were almost entirely educated at the country's top universities and research institutes, according to the South China Morning Post on February 10. The talent pool that contributed to DeepSeek is a testament to China's strategic focus on developing human resources in technology and AI, Tian told the Global Times on Thursday, adding that it's estimated that China now accounts for nearly half of the world's top AI researchers. According to a report from US think tank MacroPolo, China has expanded its domestic AI talent pool over the last few years to meet the demands of its own growing AI industry, while the US has dropped from hosting about 59 percent of the world's top AI talent - at academic institutions and commercial entities - to 42 percent. "What is interesting is that many Chinese researchers who originally worked in the US are now flowing back to China," Liu Gang, chief economist at the Chinese Institute of New Generation AI Development Strategies, told the Global Times on Thursday, citing various factors such as better career opportunities and scientific advancement. In Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, for example, the local government is tailoring support policies to boost the high-quality growth of the AI industry, offering up to 100 million yuan in project funding for both local and international professionals. "China seems to be gaining an edge in terms of talent cultivation. By nurturing fresh talent, China is positioning itself to lead in a field that demands creativity and forward thinking," Liu said, adding that global cooperation and open dialogue on talent development will also be important.</section></article>

With China's rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, demand for skilled AI professionals has surged as major Chinese internet and tech companies ramp up their efforts to attract AI talent.

Chinese spatial design firm Manycore Tech, one of six Hangzhou-based tech start-ups known as the "Six Little Dragons," alongside DeepSeek, Game Science and robot maker Unitree Robotics, has launched a Tech Stars Young Talent Program, with the highest annual salary of 1 million yuan ($137,617), to attract young talent, according to Shanghai Observer.

The firm is seeking to fill 30 new campus recruit and intern positions across various fields, including multimodal models, AIGC, Sim2Real, embodied intelligence, AI-driven graphics engines, 3D algorithms and intelligent space design, Zhang Xiaoqing, the company's marketing director, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"Within a week of resuming work after the Spring Festival holidays, we received over 10,000 resumes on online recruitment platform BOSS Zhipin. Some of our co-founders will also be involved in the recruitment process," said Zhang.

Unitree also confirmed to the Global Times on Thursday that the company has opened several positions for social and campus recruitment. Among them, the monthly salaries for generative AI engineers and deep reinforcement learning engineers range from 40,000 to 70,000 yuan.

Previously,DeepSeek started a rapid expansion, as it made high-paying job offers for both fresh graduates and experienced professionals to attract top-tier talent, according to a China Fund News report on February 4.

Meanwhile, Chinese tech giant Alibaba has also launched a large-scale recruitment drive for its AI To Customer business, with hundreds of positions available. Ninety percent of the positions are related to AI, primarily focused on AI model development and product research and development, the Securities Times reported on Wednesday.

As the global technology competition intensifies, it becomes clear that the competition is not solely about advanced machines or cutting-edge technologies, and instead, it is fundamentally a battle of human intellect and innovation, said Tian Feng, former dean of Chinese AI software giant SenseTime's Intelligence Industry Research Institute.

The recent launch of DeepSeek has sent ripples through the tech community. The 180-plus members who made up the Chinese AI team were almost entirely educated at the country's top universities and research institutes, according to the South China Morning Post on February 10.

The talent pool that contributed to DeepSeek is a testament to China's strategic focus on developing human resources in technology and AI, Tian told the Global Times on Thursday, adding that it's estimated that China now accounts for nearly half of the world's top AI researchers.

According to a report from US think tank MacroPolo, China has expanded its domestic AI talent pool over the last few years to meet the demands of its own growing AI industry, while the US has dropped from hosting about 59 percent of the world's top AI talent - at academic institutions and commercial entities - to 42 percent.

"What is interesting is that many Chinese researchers who originally worked in the US are now flowing back to China," Liu Gang, chief economist at the Chinese Institute of New Generation AI Development Strategies, told the Global Times on Thursday, citing various factors such as better career opportunities and scientific advancement.

In Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, for example, the local government is tailoring support policies to boost the high-quality growth of the AI industry, offering up to 100 million yuan in project funding for both local and international professionals.

"China seems to be gaining an edge in terms of talent cultivation. By nurturing fresh talent, China is positioning itself to lead in a field that demands creativity and forward thinking," Liu said, adding that global cooperation and open dialogue on talent development will also be important.