Artificial intelligence has become one of the most popular majors across Chinese higher education institutions. Based on Department of Education data, more than 600 universities will have launched AI undergraduate programs in 2026, an explosive increase from just 35 approved in 2018.
According to economic media Yicai, at least 90 of China’s “double first class” universities (the country’s elite higher education institutions) have established AI-related schools and universities.
This rapid expansion has been driven by a strong combination of national strategy and market demand.
In April, the Ministry of Education, together with four other central government ministries, released an action plan outlining comprehensive measures for AI talent development, application innovation, infrastructure development and ecosystem building.
The plan calls for making AI a public foundational course in higher education, creating new interdisciplinary programs, and exploring new models for developing top AI talent. The move follows the Ministry of Education’s release of the 2026 undergraduate program catalog in the same month. The catalog has added 38 new undergraduate majors, including AI for Business, Embodied Intelligence, and Brain Computer Science and Technology.
Universities do more than just add new departments. They are fundamentally reimagining the academic ecosystem around AI. MyCOS, an education and research institute, pointed out that when educational institutions establish an AI school, they are often not starting from scratch. Instead, it will integrate existing computer science, big data, and automation programs into new academic units.
Fudan University has rolled out a three-tier AI curriculum system that aims to provide 100% coverage of all undergraduate and graduate students, first-level fields and majors, according to the university’s report.
Ningbo University now requires all majors to offer at least one “AI+” interdisciplinary course. According to the official websites of both universities, Tsinghua University emphasizes the “AI+X” model, which integrates AI in all fields.
The value of China’s core AI industry will reach more than 1.2 trillion yuan ($177 billion) in 2025, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing a senior Chinese official.
However, the demand for talent far exceeds the supply. McKinsey & Company predicts that China could face a shortage of up to 4 million AI professionals by 2030. This “AI+” transformation extends beyond traditional technology fields.
Lao Yanting, an associate researcher at China’s National Academy of Education Sciences, told China Central Television that AI is no longer just a major, but is increasingly penetrating all academic fields, including not only science and engineering but also the humanities and social sciences.
But as universities race to establish AI credentials, prominent voices in academia are raising concerns about sustainability and the quality of education.
Capital Normal University President Fang Fuquan told Beijing News that AI is a technology, not a science.
Just as humanity’s understanding of the universe relies on fundamental science such as the periodic table and Newton’s laws, he said, focusing too much on technology at the expense of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and even the humanities and arts can have unintended consequences.
He warned that people may lack the knowledge to distinguish between truth and falsehood in AI-generated videos that defy the laws of physics.
Huang said that while the pursuit of rapid results and emphasis on AI applications is widespread, universities need to guide students to build a solid foundation in basic science along with technical skills.
“Society should foster an ecosystem where everyone does not have to work on AI applications,” he said, adding, “People who pursue basic sciences, humanities, and arts can also become great human resources.”
“Science is contingent. Even fields that are currently obscure may flourish in a few years,” he said, calling for a more scientific and future-oriented evaluation system.
In announcing the action plan in April, Fudan University President Jing Li said AI models are iterated every few months, and what’s popular today could be outdated tomorrow.
“If universities are still producing ‘finished product’ talent, it’s like holding on to a sword while crossing a river,” he says.
Jin often uses metaphors to explain the type of talent universities should develop.
“We need to develop ‘stem cell’ people – people who can quickly establish cognitive frameworks in uncharted territory, integrate resources across disciplinary boundaries, and iterate continuously in the face of failure,” he said.
