In the heart of Guizhou province, a digital revolution is unfolding, transforming the lives of thousands through artificial intelligence data annotation work. At the "AI Bean Plan" artificial intelligence industry incubation space in Wangjia Community, Wanshan District, Tongren City, relocated villager Chen Xia's words echo with pride, "Having a stable monthly income of over 4,000 yuan, being able to care for my children, and engaging with cutting-edge technology at my doorstep—this job is simply perfect for us." This community, serving as the inaugural national pilot for the "AI Bean Plan," has enabled over a hundred relocated individuals to engage in data annotation work, with an average monthly income ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 yuan. They have expanded their reach by establishing a branch in Kaili City, constructing a bridge to the digital economy.
This initiative is a vivid snapshot of Guizhou's broader strategy to develop its data annotation industry, aiming for high-quality employment among key demographics. Seizing the opportunities presented by the artificial intelligence boom, Guizhou has positioned data annotation as a core track within its data industry, solidifying the brand "Do Annotation, Go to Guizhou." Official statistics reveal that as of the end of July this year, Guizhou boasts 135 data annotation enterprises, with a workforce exceeding 16,000 individuals dedicated to this field.
The model of "Training is Employment" has proven its efficacy. Wang Xiuyan, once a poverty-stricken laborer from Liangwang Town, Rongjiang County, in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, shared her journey: "Without a skill, I couldn't find stable work. Now, having mastered data annotation, I can work right at home." She has successfully increased her income after systematic training in image annotation and information categorization. Similarly, Cengong County has launched order-based training classes for data annotationists, offering new job prospects to its residents.
At the Bainiaohe Digital Intelligence Industrial Park in Huishui County, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, a deep collaboration between Guizhou Sheng Hua Vocational College and the park's enterprise, Mengdong Technology, has paved a unique educational path. Students attend professional courses in the morning and engage in real project training at the company in the afternoon, embedding data annotation tasks directly into their curriculum. The philosophy there is simple: "Class is work, teachers are managers, and performance is grades." Sheng Hua, the founder of Mengdong Technology, revealed that over the past decade, the school-enterprise partnership has nurtured over 7,600 digital talents, with practical training and employment opportunities for over 6,000 individuals, elevating the company into the national top ten for data services.
This "training-equals-employment" approach is now being replicated across Guizhou. In the Qiandongnan Prefecture, local human resources departments are focusing on digital industry demands, offering specialized training for AI trainers and data annotationists. This year alone, 213 trainees have completed courses, with all successful graduates onboarding directly with relevant enterprises, achieving an efficient cycle of "graduation equals employment." A relevant official from the Rongjiang County Human Resources Department noted that systematic trainees demonstrate high proficiency and quality, with an average on-the-job salary of around 3,000 yuan per month, and top performers earning up to 4,500 yuan.
The allure of data annotation lies in its low entry barriers, rapid skill acquisition, and stable income, making it a magnet for both urban and rural workers. In the relocation resettlement site for poverty alleviation at Huimin Street, Zhijin County, Bijie City, Chen Qiao, a former full-time stay-at-home mother, began her career with Bijie Jiachuang Zhiyuan Technology Co., Ltd. in 2025. Starting from zero, she quickly became a key performer, earning between 5,000 and 6,000 yuan monthly. "Before, I had to ask for money; now I earn it myself, and it feels empowering," she expressed. The company employs 150 people, 46 of whom hail from relocated families, with 98% working locally.
In a similar vein, 28-year-old Wang Min, who moved from the mountains to a county resettlement site seven years ago, has evolved from a novice to a trainer with a stable monthly income exceeding 5,000 yuan. She recalls mentoring a 30-something rural woman who struggled initially, taking a month to master what others could learn in a week. Today, that woman stands as the fastest and most accurate annotator in the base, earning between 3,500 and 4,000 yuan per month. The physically undemanding nature and flexible work schedule of data annotation have also opened doors for disabled individuals seeking quality local employment. In Qingzhen City, Guiyang, a company has provided jobs to nearly 50 disabled persons through government-enterprise-university collaboration. Yang Cheng, a 27-year-old with cerebral palsy, found purpose as a data annotator after repeated rejections elsewhere. Now, he completes over a thousand annotation tasks daily, earning a stable 4,000 yuan monthly, and affirms, "This job is no longer an ordeal; it allows me to live with my mother."
Guizhou's data annotation sector is rapidly evolving from basic image and text labeling to high-precision multimodal annotation, covering everything from autonomous driving datasets to AI-generated animation content. Enterprises in the Yunyan Digital Specialty Industrial Park are pushing beyond traditional boundaries; for instance, Guizhou Qianju Annotation Technology Co., Ltd. provides integrated services like AI animation adaptation for leading platforms, contributing to several flagship animation projects.
The industry's growth is bolstered by robust policy support. The Guizhou Provincial Big Data Bureau has released 25 implementation rules, allocating 200 million yuan in support funds. Data annotation enterprises can receive a 3% reward based on business revenue, with additional rewards ranging from 1 million to 10 million yuan for those meeting employment thresholds, all through a "no-application-needed" direct transfer system. Financial institutions are collaborating to offer "Data Annotation Order Loans" to alleviate the pressure of upfront costs for companies.
As the provincial responsible person emphasized, "Data annotation is the foundational stage of AI and data element industries, and Guizhou has distinct comparative advantages in this sector." The province is concentrating on attracting leading enterprises in high-precision, multimodal, and embodied intelligence fields, deepening school-enterprise cooperation to expand talent cultivation, and upgrading provincial digital intelligence industrial parks. This year alone, the workforce in Guizhou's data annotation sector aims to surpass 20,000 people.
From a "data warehouse" to a "data factory," Guizhou's data annotation industry is flourishing. Yet, the most heartening narrative is the transformation of ordinary individuals—relocated residents securing their "digital rice bowls," disabled persons discovering their worth, and young returnees embracing the AI era in their hometowns. With every click and box drawn, these workers are not just annotating data; they are charting a course toward a stable, fulfilling future.