SHIJIAZHUANG, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ding Jianxin, a solo founder, sits at his workstation on a video call with a client. He is among a growing number of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered One Person Companies, or OPCs.

Located inside "Rainforest Space" at the Zhongguancun Science Park in Xiongan New Area, north China's Hebei Province, the workstation is designed for startups like Ding's.

The Chinese government issued an action plan in June for the growth of platform-economy enterprises, calling for accelerated cultivation of AI-powered OPCs. This month, the government proposed in another document to expand AI-related employment and create new models of employment and entrepreneurship in the AI sector.

According to a report on OPCs in China released by a team led by Yao Jianhua, a professor at Fudan University in Shanghai, there were 426 OPC communities nationwide, covering 28 provincial-level regions and 65 cities, as of May 2026.

"Driven by both the deep penetration of AI technology and continued policy support, OPCs characterized by 'one person + AI' are growing from a marginal form of entrepreneurship into an important part of China's entrepreneurial ecosystem, marking a new way of working and employment that is increasingly gaining social recognition," the report said.

Flooded with sunlight, the 2,800-square-meter "Rainforest Space" features stylish co-working areas, shared meeting nooks, a roadshow hall and a cafe. On Floor 3, Building B1 of the tech park, OPC founders tend to their work at their workstations.

In June, Ding registered a creative software company. He has since rolled out several AI-powered products to help small and medium creators gauge the viral potential of AI-generated short drama scripts, flag compliance risks, adapt content for overseas markets and support production workflows.

Established in 2017, Xiongan New Area serves as a key hub for relieving Beijing of its non-capital functions and a core platform for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

The city has taken initial shape, with relocated projects settling in and innovation resources gathering rapidly. It pursues a dual strategy: attracting headquarters and subsidiaries of state-owned enterprises, and drawing agile, compact OPCs.

Fresh graduate Xue Yang also kicked off her entrepreneurial journey at the Rainforest Space, where she founded an intelligent technology company. The community helped her deploy AI tools and secure computing resources, and matched her with a tailored project.

"I received an order on my second day of business, which greatly boosted my confidence," Xue said.

As a startup accelerator, the community empowers entrepreneurs. More than 40 on-site technology service platforms are open to all OPCs.

The park offers on-demand, pay-as-you-go computing-power access. Founders can tap computing resources much like households draw electricity or running water, without investing in expensive servers. The park has also partnered with social capital to launch a micro seed fund for OPCs.

A one-stop service station sits at the community entrance. Rotating specialists from accounting firms, law firms and intellectual property agencies provide services including company seal engraving, financial bookkeeping, contract review and patent guidance. To date, more than 30 OPCs have settled in the community.

In Xiongan's Rongdong Area, around 10,000 square meters of reserved public service space has been refurbished into an OPC shared service center. It converts underused public space into a live-work setup where founders live upstairs and work downstairs. It complements Rainforest Space, which focuses more on industrial and business matchmaking.

Huo Pengbo heads a technology firm where he is the only human team member. He sits in his office holding a team briefing with his "AI employees". One handles copywriting, another designs visuals, a third edits video content, and a central "smart brain" oversees coordination and decision-making.

"What worries solo entrepreneurs most is not technical challenges, but a flood of administrative chores. Registration, bookkeeping, securing computing power and client negotiations all pull focus from core work," Huo said. The community provides full-chain support "covering computing resources, business leads and daily operational needs," he said, adding that it had encouraged him to launch his venture from scratch.

Xiongan New Area recently released its first batch of accredited OPC communities for 2026, including Rainforest Space and the Rongdong hub. The new area has also rolled out targeted policies to support OPC communities, covering hub construction, one-stop services, factor guarantees and funding support.