The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology held a press conference regarding the implementation plan for the AI plus software action. During the event, the China Software Industry Association addressed concerns about artificial intelligence replacing programmers, emphasizing the need for workforce adaptation.
Lü Weifeng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the association, noted that software development methods are changing. While the importance of basic coding skills is declining, demand is rising for expertise in system architecture, security, and quality control. Human-machine collaboration is now considered a fundamental skill.
The industry is seeing a shift toward complex roles, such as Frontline Deployment Engineers, who require both technical proficiency and deep industry knowledge. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has officially added new professions to the national classification, including generative AI system application specialists and industrial software designers.
To manage this transition, the association recommends that companies implement intelligent upgrades alongside workforce retraining. The strategy focuses on supporting employees as they move into high-value positions, fostering new business models like intelligent agent software, and deepening industry-education integration.
