China’s science graduates can earn more than bankers as AI talent shortage pushes up pay

“Show me the money” might have been a catchphrase associated with highly paid sports stars after Cuba Gooding Jr’s character told his agent played by Tom Cruise to get him a better deal in the 1996 Hollywood movie Jerry Maguire. These days it is becoming the mantra of anybody with a good résumé in artificial intelligence.

This is especially true in China, which has set a goal of being an AI leader by 2030 but is suffering from an acute shortage of experienced AI talent, forcing companies in the sector to outbid each other for new hires both at home and abroad.

The hot demand means that salaries for those in the AI sector are 35 to 50 per cent above the average pay for graduates holding the same degree but working in other industries, said Edward Hsu managing director of global advisory firm Willis Towers Watson (WTW).

For headhunters like Kevin Guo, who work in the financial and insurance sectors, the recruitment landscape has changed dramatically over the past year.