Artificial Intelligence is spreading fast across industries. But in China, AI isn't just helping workers, it is also becoming a weapon in the office. According to reports, some employees are now relying on AI to protect their own position while threatening the roles of co-workers.
These tools, often available on GitHub, can help employees show management which roles AI could easily take over, while also proving the value of the work they themselves do.
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One such program is colleague.skill, which is designed to replicate workflows, essentially demonstrating to management which roles could be automated. The ultimate goal is clear: if AI can do your co-worker's job, they are more likely to be laid off first. While the person who built the AI stays safe, potentially.
In response, some employees have started using anti-distillation tools, like anti-distillation.skill, which are going viral on Chinese social media. In a viral social media video, a female developer demonstrated how it can help employees protect their skills from being copied or used by AI created by rivals.
The tool works by rewriting regular work documents so they remain clear and professional for human readers while hiding the key details of how the work was actually done.
Such tools come amid fear of AI that is spreading through China's offices and affecting how people work and interact online. Conversations about “AI anxiety” have gone viral, with millions reading about employees struggling to keep up with new AI tools just to avoid being replaced. Many are openly sharing the stress of constantly learning, while others are embracing a “lying flat” approach: doing only what is necessary at work to resist being pushed out by AI.
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Workers are also adapting to another popular AI tool, OpenClaw. Developed by Austrian programmer Peter Steinberger, OpenClaw is more than a chatbot; it can operate on its own. It controls apps, browsers and even smart devices to complete tasks automatically. Users can run full workflows by including actions on platforms like WhatsApp, without constant supervision.
According to research by SecurityScorecard, China leads the world in OpenClaw usage, nearly double that of the US. For many Chinese employees, it has become a practical solution to handle day-to-day work while navigating the growing influence of AI.
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