context: The PRC is advancing in self-driving technology, piloting an intelligent 'road-vehicle-cloud' system that integrates autonomous vehicles with smart roads and infrastructure in 20 cities in July 2024. Baidu's robotaxi in Wuhan has sparked debate about the rapid deployment of this technology. Beyond safety issues, the potential for job disruption in the driving sector has become a key concern, as many laid-off workers have turned to ridesharing. Increasing joblessness has prompted the centre to revisit employment policies.
Job creation should take precedence over technological progress to address economic hardships, contends Sun Liping 孙立平 Tsinghua University sociology professor, citing severe employment issues in the PRC.
Introducing robotaxis now could lead to widespread unemployment, worsening existing economic challenges and negatively impacting many families, Sun argues. While robotaxis are modern and efficient, Sun suggests prioritising livelihoods and social stability during tough economic times.
Ridesharing is the last hope for the unemployed, says Nie Huihua 聂辉华 Renmin University economics professor. Nie stresses that AI usually benefits capital over labour, exacerbating inequality between the rich and the poor. Inclusive political systems are needed to ensure AI development focuses on aiding workers, not replacing them.
The e-hailing industry has been oversaturated, with increasing driver registrations and declining full-time driver income, points out Wu Jing 吴静 Nanjing Normal University philosophy professor. She argues that robotaxis could be a market hype disconnected from real social needs, and the alignment with genuine societal demands should be emphasised.
Not all scholars are sympathetic to human drivers. Slowing down the rollout of driverless taxis may harm tech companies and programmers, argues He Bin 贺滨 Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Economic Research Public Policy Research Centre deputy director. He asserts that e-hailing drivers can find other jobs and have also hurt taxi drivers, making the protection of human drivers a short-term measure. He argues effective governance should prioritise long-term rights over short-term interests to ensure sustainable technological advancement.
By December 2023, the PRC had 6.57 million registered ride-hailing drivers, with 1.48 million added that year. In Wuhan, Baidu's driverless taxi service reached 3,900 daily orders and is projected to hit 16,800 daily orders by the end of 2024, accounting for 4.3 percent of the city's 388,000 e-hailing orders.