With just one person and a computer, an entrepreneur can now operate as both boss and employee, leveraging AI tools to independently manage everything from product design and development to market launches. This business model, known as a "One Person Company" (OPC), is gaining significant traction. At the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo held in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, OPC concepts were frequently discussed alongside intelligent agents, data, and models.
The acronym OPC stands for "One Person Company," and the new business model of "founder plus digital employee" is rapidly becoming a reality. "We are producing videos, e-commerce ads, short dramas, and live-action series," said Shu Yingzhuan, a representative of Guizhou Wosi Technology Co., Ltd. He noted that each of these projects is run by a single person as a standalone company, made possible by the advancement of artificial intelligence.
The rise of the OPC model reflects a shift in how AI is applied. Song Xianrong, Director of the International Data Governance Cooperation Department of the National Data Administration, explained that AI is moving from content generation to task execution. "In 2025, the total volume of inference data in China exceeded training data for the first time, indicating that the focus of AI development is shifting from model training to broader application deployment," she said.
However, relying on intelligent agents to handle more work doesn't mean entrepreneurship only requires AI. Supporting services for OPCs are also emerging. On June 30 of this year, the Jinlin Chuangxiang OPC Community launched, integrating living, office, entrepreneurship services, order opportunities, and community activities. It also includes processes for entry assessment, policy confirmation, order matching, and growth accompaniment.
An AI large model designed specifically for "one-person companies" was showcased at the expo, developed by Guizhou Zhanqiao Technology Co., Ltd. The model provides entrepreneurs with AI copywriting and video production services, enabling a single individual to run a fully automated 24-hour AI-powered digital business.
Industry experts suggest that as AI takes on more specific tasks, the role of humans is also changing. At the expo, discussions highlighted that the application of "digital employees" still faces challenges related to security and accuracy. In the era of digital employees, humans act as both trainers and managers. From "one expert collaborating with multiple intelligent agents" to the precise delivery of data and models into specific scenarios, and the gradual provision of services like order and office support, the discussions on OPC at the expo indicate that AI is advancing from assisting individual work to becoming deeply integrated into business processes and organizational collaboration.