As Asia faces falling birth rates, AI’s rise distracts couples from building families
AI is putting pressure on Asian workers to upgrade their skills, while the technology also provides ‘cheap fun’ diversions
Fertility rates across the region have fallen to some of the lowest levels in the world, well below the generally accepted replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman needed to keep a population stable over time.
This decline largely stems from financial pressures and career demands faced by people in their thirties and forties, the prime age for starting families, according to James Liang, adjunct professor at Peking University’s National School of Development.
“AI amplifies everything: it demands more training – masters, PhDs – for young people just to get a foothold, suppressing entry wages, while flooding daily life with cheap fun like short videos, virtual reality, gaming and AI companions,” he said.
The increasing use of AI across industries is set to transform workplaces, driving companies to require more training and certifications, according to human resource experts.
“In Asia, parents are locked in an arms race of tutoring, extracurriculars and elite schooling, pouring massive time and money into each child just to stay competitive,” Liang said. “Not only for children, but parents themselves are also acquiring more training to remain competitive in the age of AI.”