Banks and Internet Giants Compete for AI "New Talent Wave"

The latest AI talent war is in full swing. Recently, major state-owned banks such as Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, and China Construction Bank have launched their 2026 spring campus recruitment; almost simultaneously, internet tech giants like Tencent, Baidu, and Ant Group have also begun their 2026 spring recruitment, creating a scene where “tech giants + traditional financial institutions” compete side by side for talent.

In addition to the big state-owned banks, joint-stock banks and regional small and medium-sized banks are also actively vying for tech talent. This round of spring recruitment by internet giants and banks shows clear differentiation in positioning but also a high industry consensus—AI talent is becoming a “hot commodity” that both new and established forces are fiercely competing for.

Strong Demand for AI Talent

“This spring, I noticed that traditional industries like banks and automakers are offering AI-related positions, and I plan to apply. But I still prefer roles in large internet companies focused on AI. Overall, I think big tech firms have more options,” said Liu Yu (pseudonym), a computer science graduate, to Securities Daily.

This subtle feeling among applicants reflects the current fierce competition for AI talent led by internet giants. Unlike in the past, as AI increasingly permeates all industries, the demand for AI talent is no longer limited to big tech firms; traditional industries are also turning their attention to “AI+” hybrid talents.

Notably, Ant Group launched its 2026 spring campus recruitment on March 10, focusing on core areas such as large model algorithms, multimodal generation, data intelligence, foundational platform development, and AI security. In this recruitment, 85% of positions are technical, with over 70% related to artificial intelligence. Tencent announced the start of its 2026 internship recruitment on March 6, offering over 10,000 internship positions, with a 36% increase in technical roles, a 39% increase in product roles, and a significant expansion of AI-related positions. Baidu’s 2026 campus recruitment includes roles in AI technology ecosystem operations and AI heterogeneous computing engineering. ByteDance’s 2026 internship recruitment also shows strong demand for AI engineering and AI product positions.

Major banks generally prioritize recruiting technical talents in artificial intelligence and big data, with a particularly notable trend of expanding fintech positions.

Among the six largest state-owned banks, branches such as the Beijing, Jilin, and Hainan branches of China Construction Bank are recruiting “specialized technology talents” during spring recruitment. China Construction Bank’s subsidiary, Jianxin Financial Technology Co., Ltd., is also recruiting “specialized technology talents,” including AI-focused roles. The Bank of China’s Information Technology Operations Center is hiring graduates in computer science, communications engineering, mathematics, big data, AI, electrical engineering, and related fields. Among joint-stock banks, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank’s 2026 spring campus recruitment mainly targets students with backgrounds in AI, data science, software engineering, and fintech, aiming to develop technical talents for research, operations, AI, and data management, with a preference for graduates with AI, data science, or fintech backgrounds. China Merchants Bank is recruiting for IT positions involving software development, data analysis, network, and system maintenance.

Regional small and medium-sized banks like city and rural commercial banks are also eager for fintech talents. For example, Guangzhou Bank’s spring recruitment includes a fintech position at head office focusing on new technology R&D, big data applications, AI, and algorithm modeling to cultivate versatile fintech professionals. Beijing Rural Commercial Bank’s spring recruitment offers positions such as digital intelligence elites and fintech trainees, involved in product development, software engineering (application development, project management, big data, AI, blockchain, etc.). Ningbo Bank’s head office is recruiting fintech students, and Shanghai Bank’s head office offers an algorithm engineer role focused on AI frontier technology, financial scene applications, and innovative research.

Overall, bank spring recruitment features a “steady layout and precise positioning.” While maintaining traditional talent needs, they are also emphasizing fintech roles, especially those related to AI and hybrid skills.

Job Requirements Vary

The spring recruitment strategies of internet giants and banks show clear differentiation but also a high industry consensus. Tech companies focus on cutting-edge AI research and breakthroughs, emphasizing large models and global coverage, highlighting their innovative DNA. Banks, on the other hand, focus more on applying AI to financial scenarios, integrating AI deeply into core business areas like risk control and customer service, with job roles tailored to meet compliance and practicality needs.

Industry analysts say that the intense competition for AI talent between internet giants and banks reflects a shared industry recognition that AI upgrades are essential. AI applications in finance will become more widespread and in-depth, and talents who can bridge technology and financial business will be the core drivers of the industry’s intelligent transformation.

“AI is evolving from a technical tool into a core production factor. Whoever masters top talent will gain an advantage in the next round of competition. The competition for AI talent between internet giants and banks during spring recruitment is a necessary response to digital transformation and intelligent upgrading,” said Lou Feipeng, researcher at Postal Savings Bank of China. He added that internet companies need AI to strengthen their core business moat and explore new growth points, while banks face accelerating digital transformation pressures and need AI to improve risk management, optimize customer experience, reduce operational costs, and create new profit models.

Tencent’s recruitment leader told Securities Daily, “Talent is the foundation of building technological fortresses. Tencent actively embraces cutting-edge technology and invests heavily in AI, inviting more young talents to co-build the AI era. We adhere to a ‘long-term approach’ in recruitment and training, providing stable platforms and growth opportunities that can withstand cycles.”

From the recruitment perspective, both internet giants and banks are increasingly seeking “hybrid talents,” shifting from purely technical roles to more versatile profiles.

For example, Tencent has added an “AI application skills module” in resumes to attract candidates with “AI Native” thinking, aiming to evolve with the AI wave alongside business.

Nankai University finance professor Tian Lihui believes that banks increasing recruitment of AI and algorithm talents is essentially a “talent infrastructure project” for building a fintech ecosystem. In the short term, fresh blood will accelerate technological iteration and promote AI from isolated applications to full-process integration. In the long term, cross-industry talent flow will catalyze the coordinated evolution of “technology-business-regulation,” helping to balance innovation and risk.

Big Tech or Financial Institutions?

For soon-to-be graduates entering the workforce, this AI talent war offers broad employment opportunities but also higher requirements for comprehensive skills.

Lou Feipeng said that internet giants offer high-growth technical roles, while banks provide stable career paths and versatile training opportunities, broadening employment options for graduates. This competition has objectively increased salaries and training standards for AI-related positions, prompting companies to improve training systems and providing graduates with better career starting points.

Experts unanimously advise graduates to leverage their strengths, precisely match job requirements, and use their skill sets to identify suitable career paths.

Lou further suggested that graduates should follow the principle of “interest—ability—platform” when job hunting: if seeking technical depth, prioritize internet research institutes; if preferring stable development and versatile growth, bank fintech subsidiaries are good options.

Tian Lihui added, “If you excel in algorithm innovation, choose big tech firms to push technological frontiers; if you are strong in business understanding, bank AI roles can better leverage the ‘tech + finance’ dual advantage.”

Dujun, a special researcher at Shanghai Commercial Bank, also offered specific advice: first, actively learn and try, clarifying the company’s business layout and role responsibilities through communication; second, have a clear plan for career development; third, pay attention to corporate culture and values beyond job content to find a good cultural fit; fourth, maintain confidence during job applications and interviews— in the AI era, everyone’s potential and expertise can be activated in multiple dimensions.