At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 in Shanghai, technology company iFlytek made a splash by unveiling its "AI Smart Blackboard". Using a smart pen, teachers can write as they would on a traditional blackboard, tap once to edit handwriting, display interactive 3D models, and control the screen with voice commands.
The system automatically links notes with relevant learning resources and records lessons for student review. According to the manufacturer, this special blackboard is used across all 33 provincial-level regions, over 300 cities, and 1,400 districts and counties in China.
This tool is one component of a sweeping transformation across the nation, impacting over 220 million students. Responding to calls from the education sector, numerous schools are piloting AI for student monitoring, feedback, and learning content design.
At Liaoshen Street No. 2 Primary School, calligraphy students upload images of their handwriting to an AI system for immediate feedback. During physical education, integrated computer vision technology records sprint performance and analyzes individual student movements.
Meanwhile, at Beijing No. 13 High School, an AI assistant synthesizes weeks of learning data, analyzing student performance in class, along with homework and test results. In just minutes, this system generates sequences of questions or exercises tailored to each student's level. Teachers review and refine the content before use.
"Previously, we had to check every line of code for each student, which was very time-consuming and labor-intensive", said Mr. Dong, a programming teacher at the school. Now, the time saved by AI is dedicated to lesson planning and professional development for teachers, instead of repetitive grading.
China has invested in digital education for many years. All primary and secondary schools were connected to the internet by 2020, laying the groundwork for the widespread adoption of digital learning tools.
AI is seen as the next step in this educational transformation. According to Mr. Wang Jiayi, Deputy Minister of Education, it supports learning, increasing student flexibility and autonomy.
However, educators warn that AI still has limitations. For example, current systems cannot accurately evaluate certain types of essays or students' reasoning processes in mathematics.
"That is why the role of teachers is not diminished; on the contrary, it becomes even more essential. Students still need teachers to provide intellectual inspiration and empathy in complex situations", said the Vice Principal of Beijing No. 13 High School.
Khanh Linh (According to Xinhua, Gulf Times, People's Daily)
