Experts Address AI Transition and Shared Growth at Sanlihe Seminar

China News Service reported that its Sanlihe studio hosted a seminar on October 22 focused on moving past an Engels pause through technological revolution and shared development. Peking University School of Economics Professor Su Jian stated that technological progress boosts employment over the long term. Drawing on historical lessons from sewing machines and computers, Su noted that lower costs generate new industries and mutual adaptation between labor and tools, calling for labor retraining, new demand expansion, and lower trial-and-error costs for small and medium enterprises. National Information Center researcher Wei Qijia stated that technology is neutral and relies on application guidance. Wei recommended distinguishing long-term development from short-term transitional pain, screening deployment scenarios, regulating unnecessary job substitution that lacks social welfare benefits, and applying regulatory rules to protect workers while respecting enterprise stages. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences researcher Zhao Wen noted that rapid transformation can intensify conflicts over jobs, cognition, and distribution. With artificial intelligence firms earning excess returns using public data and infrastructure without clear pricing or allocation rules, Zhao called for lengthening transitional buffers, developing labor-friendly technology, and providing social security.