Original Source
AI's Impact: China's Foreign Language Programs Cut, Elderly AI Adoption Rises, Robotics Advances
AI Impact: China's Foreign Language Programs Face Cuts
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) translation tools and changes in the international exchange environment have posed severe challenges to foreign language programs in Chinese universities. According to a report by The Epoch Times, the Chinese Ministry of Education's 2025 undergraduate program review shows many universities have abolished or suspended numerous majors, including foreign language programs. Specifically, Jiangsu Province saw 55 programs cut. Data from MyCOS Research indicates that 70 universities suspended a total of 525 undergraduate majors, with a notable reduction in language-related fields like Japanese, German, and translation. Following the University of Science and Technology of China's decision to cut its English undergraduate program in 2023, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics also halted 12 programs, including English, in 2025, underscoring AI's growing influence on language education.
Contrasting Views on AI: Youth Pessimism vs. Elderly Adoption
Public perception of AI's advancement remains divided. Maeil Business Newspaper, citing Axios, reported that contrary to Silicon Valley's optimism, public sentiment is cooling, with 80% of younger generations expressing pessimism about AI. Concerns are mounting that AI will eliminate jobs, exacerbate environmental damage through massive power consumption, and worsen wealth inequality. Conversely, Mega News reported a significant increase in elderly adoption of AI applications. As of January 2026, the top three AI products by monthly active users over 50 were DeepSeek, Doubao, and Ant Afu, each exceeding 6 million users. Ant Afu, in particular, had an elderly user ratio of 23.5%, demonstrating how user-friendly AI interfaces are helping bridge the digital divide for older generations.
AI-Powered Robotics Technology Accelerates
Robotics technology, when combined with AI, is advancing at an astonishing pace. Mega News reported that in April 2026, the autonomous navigation-equipped 'Lightning' robot completed a half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, beating the human world record by seven minutes. Furthermore, Figure AI announced a 24-fold increase in robot production in just 120 days, from one unit per day to one unit per hour. Their F.03 robot successfully sorted over 45,000 packages on a logistics line for 30 consecutive hours without stopping. According to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, humanoid robot shipments in China reached approximately 14,400 units in 2025, accounting for 84.7% of the global total, with further growth expected in 2026. This indicates that AI robotics is moving beyond the laboratory stage into mass production and practical industrial application, entering a phase of rapid 'sprinting' development.
*Source: 大纪元, 매일경제, 報新聞 Mega News (2026-05-18)*
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