The Million-Dollar Race for AI Talent

This Lunar New Year, China's tech giants aren't just handing out digital red envelopes - they're engaged in a high-stakes battle for AI supremacy. What began as festive marketing has morphed into an all-out war for top talent and user attention in the artificial intelligence space.

Salary Wars Heat Up

Recruitment platforms reveal staggering compensation packages being offered for AI specialists. Alibaba's Qwen team made headlines with a 1.28 million yuan ($180,000) annual salary offer for user growth algorithm engineers - a figure that would turn heads even in Silicon Valley.

"When we see this level of compensation for technical roles, it signals how critical AI has become to these companies' futures," notes Li Wei, a Shanghai-based tech recruiter. Data from BOSS Zhipin shows AI job postings grew 74.1% in 2025, outpacing all other tech sectors.

Billions for User Attention

The talent war parallels an equally fierce battle for users. Qwen's 3 billion yuan Spring Festival promotion offers free credits worth hundreds of yuan - essentially paying users to try their AI services. It's a bold gambit that recalls the early days of ride-hailing and food delivery wars, when deep discounts built market share.

"These giveaways aren't just about temporary user spikes," explains Nanjing University technology researcher Dr. Chen Xiaoling. "They're trying to establish habitual use before the market consolidates."

The Broader Battlefield

Alibaba isn't fighting alone. ByteDance's Douyin and Tencent's Yuanbao have launched competing initiatives, creating a three-way scramble among China's internet titans. Smaller players like Shanghai Zhixin Puhe Technology are also making strategic hires, hoping to carve out niches before the giants dominate.

The stakes couldn't be higher - analysts predict the winners of this AI arms race could control the next generation of internet gateways.

Key Points:

• Record salaries: 1.28 million yuan packages for top AI engineers
• Massive incentives: 3 billion yuan in user giveaways during Spring Festival
• Strategic positioning: Companies fighting to establish early dominance in AI services
• Market implications: Winners may control future internet traffic patterns