India, Nov. 15 -- The contrast between investment priorities and labour-market realities is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

By any measure, China is betting heavily on artificial intelligence. The government has created major AI funds, expanded innovation zones, encouraged state banks to finance technology firms, and supported massive corporate spending by national champions such as Alibaba and Tencent. A national AI fund worth 60 billion yuan was established in 2025 to accelerate investments in advanced technologies, while central and local governments continue directing resources toward AI infrastructure and innovation.

Beijing's logic is understandable. AI is viewed as the next strategic industry, one that will determine e...