Walmart Exec Urges U.S. Workforce to Learn from China: “Kids as Young as 5 Are Learning DeepSeek”

According to Fortune, U.S. companies are accelerating AI training to prevent workforce obsolescence. Walmart Chief People Officer Donna Morris said:

“Look at China, where kids as young as five are learning DeepSeek. It’s clear how much China values skill development. If the U.S. similarly invests in AI education, the economic impact could be profound.”

China mandates at least 8 hours of AI courses per school year in primary and secondary schools, covering topics like chatbots and AI ethics. This investment is translating into talent advantages: the Paulson Institute reported in 2020 that nearly one-third of the world’s top AI talent was born in China.

Morris emphasized that U.S. companies must actively invest in AI training to close the talent gap:

• AI skills are relevant across nearly all job functions
• Employers should help employees adapt to AI-driven, digital workplaces
• Coordinated corporate training efforts can significantly boost workforce competitiveness

AI education is now a strategic priority for U.S. businesses. Last year, over 400 executives, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, urged U.S. legislators to integrate computer science and AI into core curricula.