AI versus the China Shock Lessons, right and wrong To hear an extended conversation about the themes in this post, please subscribe and listen to our podcast, The New Bazaar. The China Shock refers to the widespread job loss that certain workers and communities suffered because of the rapid rise of trade with China in the 2000s. The AI Shock refers to the same thing happening to white collar workers from the rise of Artificial Intelligence. For now, the AI Shock is merely a potential shock. But.