WSJ: Aided by AI, Young Chinese Launched 7M+ One-Person Startups in 2025, Up 42% From Prior Year

The WSJ reports young people in China launched more than 7 million one-person AI-powered startups in 2025, up roughly 42% year-over-year, as they used AI agents to escape a brutal youth job market where one in six 16-to-24-year-olds is unemployed. Local governments are funneling subsidies into the trend: Suzhou pledged 700M yuan to cultivate 10,000+ 'OPC talents' by 2028, while Chengdu offers 20,000 yuan grants to graduates starting AI-driven solo firms.