The number of one-person companies is rapidly increasing in China as artificial intelligence agents take over essential business functions. According to Kuo Zhang, president of Alibaba.com, solo entrepreneurs who manage their projects entirely alone now make up between 30 and 40 percent of the platform's clients. Reports Devby.io.
This emerging business model allows individuals to launch and scale startups without hiring a traditional team. Local governments in several Chinese cities are actively supporting this trend by offering attractive incentives, including free housing, rent-free office spaces, and financial subsidies that can reach up to $720,000.
Kuo Zhang explains that AI agents have made this solo model highly viable. While large corporations easily handle routine e-commerce tasks like product uploads, social media management, and customer service, these duties often overwhelm single founders. Now, AI agents act as a virtual workforce, taking on the heavy operational load.
To support this growing market, Alibaba introduced Accio Work, an AI agent designed specifically for small businesses. Launched in late 2024, the tool automates daily operations such as marketing, logistics, and tax services, quickly reaching 10 million active monthly users.
The trend is further accelerated by the viral open-source agent OpenClaw, which Chinese entrepreneurs use to build diverse businesses ranging from stock trading to dating services. While these advanced AI tools are transforming the Chinese market, experts note that users in Western countries are still getting accustomed to such technologies.
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