AI education is transforming the US with Chinese apps

AI education will undoubtedly change how future generations learn essential skills, but it’s hard to understand its impact without an example.

Fortunately, we can look to the United States as a guide.

US-based tech news website TechCrunch reported that more Americans are switching to AI tutoring for its high convenience and low cost.

However, Chinese apps are leading the charge. 

READ: Microsoft says China will use AI to disrupt US elections

Chinese technology usually spreads worldwide, so we would eventually see its AI education programs in other countries like the Philippines. Consequently, those outside the US should prepare by understanding the trend. 

How is AI education spreading worldwide?

TechCrunch explained that private tutors and franchises dominated after-school learning in the United States. For example, the Japanese giant Kumon has 1,500 locations and 290,000 in the US.

The rise of AI education threatens these institutions as the former provides a more affordable and accessible alternative.

TechCrunch cites high school student Evan as an example. 

He was struggling with a calculus problem. Instead of asking a human tutor, he pulls out his iPhone and opens Answer AI. 

Then, he snaps a photo of the problem, and then Answer AI generates an answer with a step-by-step solution. 

“The tutor’s hourly cost is about the same as Answer AI’s whole year of subscription, so I stopped doing a lot of [in-person] tutoring,” explained Evan.

Surprisingly, he’s not alone as the education consultation firm Intelligent said 85% of students surveyed preferred ChatGPT tutoring. 

TechCrunch says five out of the top 20 education apps in the US App Store are AI agents that help students answer school assignments.

China owns two of them, Question AI and Gauth. The former is from the founders of the homework app Zuoyebang. 

Gauth is from ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. In 2021, China clamped down on private tutorial centers, causing them to pivot to overseas users. 

Many spread to the United States due to its sheer size, but it would likely expand to other countries.

As a result, these nations must prepare for its potential impacts.

Some like Evan use AI education apps to learn, but more would likely delegate their homework to chatbots.

If they let ChatGPT or other programs solve problems on their behalf, children may not learn essential skills.