context: Education digitalisation has become a strategic priority under the 'Outline for building the PRC into a leading country in education (2024–35)'. Among its key directions is the integration of emerging technologies, with AI increasingly seen as a critical tool to enhance personalised learning and support classroom innovation. At the World Digital Education Conference on 15 May 2025, new developments in AI-powered education tools were presented as part of PRC’s broader push to modernise learning environments.
The World Digital Education Conference’s Digital Education Development and Evaluation Forum in Wuhan on 15 May 2025, marked the release of a prototype AI science tutor for primary and secondary education, led by the China National Institute for Educational Sciences under the Ministry of Education.
The prototype
- was developed under the national key R&D project Key Technologies and Applications of AI Tutors in K-12 Science Education
- research partners include iFLYTEK, Beihang, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing Normal University, University of Science and Technology China, Huazhong Normal, Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Computing Technology, among others
- focuses on knowledge fusion, precise modelling and easy application
- promotes a dual model of 'knowledge + intelligence' and 'human + AI' co-teaching
Next steps include integration into national platforms and regional pilots
- the prototype will be connected to the national smart education platform
- pilot implementation will begin in selected eastern, central and western regions
- aiming to support national strategies for education and technology development