In 2025 alone, the company will recruit 10,000 student interns, 60% of which will be in tech-focused positions, including AI models, R&D, algorithms, and digital content, according to the company. Tencent is ramping up recruitment in areas such as cloud computing, big data, and game engines, as competition for top AI talent intensifies across China’s tech industry. As of early March, Tencent had over 55,000 full-time employees, with more than 40,000 – or 73% – in tech-related roles. Tencent previously ran a major recruitment drive in 2020, hiring 5,000 graduates. Rivals such as Alibaba are also doubling down on AI recruitment, with 80% of the Taobao owner’s 2026 campus roles focused on AI.