https://en.people.cn/n3/2026/0126/c90000-20418833.html

AI trainer certification emerges as top-tier credential in Shanghai

(Xinhua) 14:53, January 26, 2026

“AI trainer” is officially recognized in China’s occupational catalog and officially listed as “an occupation in short supply” in Shanghai. As AI transforms industries, these trainers act as “translators” between humans and machines, ensuring AI systems understand real-world needs.

An AI trainer course is offered by a development center offering industry-training integration skills and is supported by the municipal government. It blends 30 percent theory with 70 percent hands-on practice and caters largely to working professionals on weekends..

For many, the certification aligns with career shifts. “AI training perfectly matches my professional development and transition needs,” noted Yi Zhou, a researcher at a Japanese drug R&D company, who observed the growing trend of AI in biopharma. “While I previously learned AI online superficially, structured training helps build a solid knowledge base to use models for predicting key indicators in drug R&D, accelerating processes,” Yi said.

Enterprises are keen to hire certified AI trainers. At Shanghai Ideal Information Industry (Group) Co., Ltd., trained trainers serve as “guardians of the last mile in AI product deployment,” overseeing data annotation, model optimization, and quality control.

Shanghai’s AI trainer job demand has surged over 30 percent, but talents with both technical and industry expertise remain scarce, leading to recruitment challenges. Local policies are credited for reducing training costs via subsidies and fostering a “market-driven, institution-nurtured, policy-supported” ecosystem. Shanghai has bolstered training through higher subsidies and rigorous evaluation. AI trainer certification is included in the city’s key support catalog, with skill-upgrade subsidies raised by 30 percent to incentivize participation.

In 2025, Shanghai recorded 16,300 participants for AI trainers, with 10,900 earning the credential.