A group standard titled Artificial Intelligence One-Person Company Terms took effect on Aug 1, providing common terminology for identifying, evaluating, operating, and supporting artificial intelligence-based one-person companies, or OPCs.

It is China's first terminology standard focused on AI-powered one-person companies.

The standard contains 27 terms in five categories, covering an OPC's development from startup formation to international operations. It is intended to give government agencies, business platforms, entrepreneurs, incubators, and investors a shared vocabulary for policymaking, order matching, startup support, and cross-border coordination.

It defines an AI OPC as a company controlled by one core individual, generally employing no more than 10 people, and primarily engaged in AI research, development, applications, or services.

Unlike conventional self-employed businesses, single-shareholder limited liability companies, and small technology firms, an AI OPC relies primarily on intelligent agents rather than the size of its human workforce.

The drafting team plans to develop further standards covering the full lifecycle of AI OPCs and use the work as a reference for lightweight digital entrepreneurship elsewhere in China.