AI's rise sparks new professions, reshapes employment landscape(5)

At home in the metaverse

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the number of AI companies in China has surpassed 4,500. It has spawned new industries and business models while creating countless job opportunities, including new roles for those in traditional sectors. Professionals who can adeptly combine AI technology with traditional industry knowledge are becoming highly sought after in the market.

Bella Zheng, a former landscape designer, is transitioning to become a "city architect "in the metaverse and immersing herself in learning coding.

"I want to create cities in the virtual world," Zheng said. "Those who can do urban planning often can't do metaverse, and vice versa. The new profession of metaverse city architect combines both skill sets."

Many architects and space designers are joining the construction of the metaverse, freeing themselves from traditional constraints to creatively express unique works, according to Zheng. Renowned projects in the metaverse like Zaha Hadid Architects' "Liberland" are bringing this new architectural horizon into view.

This profession aligns with the childhood dream of Zheng, who is currently based in Los Angeles, California, of traveling the world. "I used to do part-time projects, visiting different cities for inspiration, including domestic and international cities, understanding their iconic features and feeling the atmosphere, and we would integrate that into our projects."

What attracts her most to this job is the infinite creative space. "In the metaverse, rules or restrictions like gravity, structural stability, climate, or physical laws don't apply. Architects can freely transcend existing conditions to create special environments and real artistic works," she said.

"Years ago, parents might not have understood my profession and would have preferred that I become an urban designer, like most of my classmates did. But now their mindset has changed. This is an emerging career, which more and more people deem promising," she said, adding there is an increasing recognition and acceptance, even from older people.