Thriving digital industry spurs emergence of new cutting-edge professions

BEIJING — Riding in a self-driving car may seem effortless, but piecing together the jigsaw of intricate artificial intelligence systems behind it still requires a human touch.

Smart vehicle testers are newly created career positions made available by AI transportation. They are responsible for conducting tests in autonomous vehicles, checking braking and steering functionality and recording critical test data.

Smart vehicle testers are among 19 new professions officially recognized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in July. Over half of these new jobs involve digital and smart technologies, such as operators of generative AI systems and industrial-internet maintenance workers.