Roles keep evolving

Taken together, Xu and Du's experiences suggest that AI is not only creating technical jobs but also redefining what non-technical workers can contribute. Analysts say this reflects a broader shift in the industry.

Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences (BASS), has observed a fundamental change in AI hiring.

"The industry is moving from being purely technology-driven to being application-driven," he said. Non-technical roles, he noted, have evolved from basic data labeling to positions such as AI product managers, prompt engineers, and domain specialists.

The barrier to entry has also changed. It is no longer only about coding ability, but also about business knowledge and proficiency with AI tools.

"It is not an easy fallback option, but a field that emphasizes real cross-disciplinary competence," Wang said.

Liu Dingding, a Beijing-based internet analyst, placed the shift in a broader context.

"In the past, programming was only for tech people who understood code," he said. "Now liberal arts students with ideas can use AI to generate code, articles, images, and short videos."

AI, he believes, is less about replacing people than amplifying their creativity. "For non-tech people, including liberal arts students, the opportunities far outweigh the challenges," Liu said.

As Xu and Du's stories show, AI presents real opportunities for liberal arts students. But those opportunities are not automatic. They require a proactive mindset, practical learning, and the willingness to apply new tools to one's own field.

For Xu, the uncertainty that once made AI feel threatening is now part of what makes the field exciting.

As she put it, "This field is so new that everyone starts from zero."