China's 'one-person companies' have exploded. An Alibaba exec explains how AI agents make that possible.
Alibaba.com president Kuo Zhang. Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Getty Images Alibaba.com president Kuo Zhang says AI is aiding the surge in one-person companies. OpenClaw, an AI agent, has helped boost the trend in China. Alibaba.com faces tariff-related challenges. Zhang says he focuses on two things to navigate them. China has seen an explosion in "one-person companies" thanks to a little help from AI agents. Alibaba.com president Kuo Zhang told Business Insider he has seen this growth firsthand, estimating that 30% to 40% of the e-commerce platform's customers are "solo entrepreneurs." Business Insider previously reported on the rise of one-person companies, or OPCs , which rely on AI tools such as agents and vibe-coding technology to build their businesses without hiring other employees. Some Chinese cities are attracting these startups by offering free housing, rent-free offices, and subsidies of up to $720,000. Zhang said AI agents have helped make ...
