Dawei Zhang, Deputy General Manager at Squirrel AI: Driving the Future of AI-Powered Learning

More Than Just Technology

Squirrel AI’s flagship achievement is its full-subject multimodal adaptive education large model — the first in the world to reach the L5 fully adaptive standard. In simple terms, the system can manage an entire learning journey without human teacher intervention, adjusting every step to meet the student’s unique needs. It’s not a concept for the future; it’s here, certified by multiple global authorities.

But what excites Zhang most isn’t the technical milestone — it’s the results. In Baishaping, a county officially listed as poverty-stricken, students raised their scores by an average of 33 points in just one month using Squirrel AI. In Jilin Province, 27 students improved their high school entrance exam scores by over 51 points in two months.

“These aren’t just numbers,” Zhang says. “They represent real kids who suddenly have new doors opening for them. That’s why we do this.”

Reaching Millions

What started as a bold idea is now a nationwide movement. Squirrel AI operates more than 5,000 offline learning centers, works with over 60,000 public schools, and supports 24 million student users. This scale is helping narrow the gap between students in big cities and those in rural areas.

For Zhang, recognition like this year’s award isn’t just validation — it’s a signal to the market and educators alike that AI-powered education is not only possible but effective. “It also tells the world that China’s AI education sector is capable of world-class innovation,” he says.

A Leader in Transformation

Zhang’s journey with Squirrel AI began in 2018, and he’s been at the center of its strategic moves ever since. Over the years, he signed and authorized more than 1,600 partners and played a key role in steering the company through the “Double Reduction” policy — a challenging period of reform in China’s education industry.

The technology he champions is equally transformative. Using dynamic knowledge graphs and an MCM capability model, Squirrel AI’s system shifts from standardized teaching to what Zhang calls “gene-level precise diagnosis.” The result? Three to five times better diagnostic accuracy and learning efficiency gains of up to 50% in subjects like math and science.

It’s not just students who benefit; teachers in smaller cities have cut their lesson prep time by over 40%, freeing them to focus on mentoring rather than repetitive tasks.

Facing the Unknown

No groundbreaking work comes without challenges. Zhang admits there were moments when the outcome was uncertain. The way forward, he says, was to embrace experimentation and take “smart risks” — moving in small steps, testing, learning quickly, and adapting. “Every challenge hides an opportunity,” he says.

Staying Ahead

In a fast-changing field like AI, staying relevant requires constant curiosity. Zhang sees himself as a lifelong learner, diving into new technologies and reflecting on how they might be applied. Collaboration is another constant in his work — drawing on diverse perspectives to spark new ideas and stay ahead of trends.

His motivation? A clear and unwavering mission. “You need your North Star — something that keeps you pushing forward,” he says. For him, that’s making sure every child, no matter where they are, can access personalized, high-quality education.

Measuring Impact

Success, for Zhang, is measured in real-world results: how quickly students master new concepts, how accurately the system matches lessons to a student’s needs, and how many learners it can support at the same time.

The company also tracks bigger-picture changes, like improved enrollment rates in under-resourced areas and better support for children with special needs. Long term, Zhang envisions a world where one-on-one personalized education is the norm, and teachers are free from repetitive tasks so they can focus on sparking creativity and curiosity in their students.

Where the Journey Leads Next

As Squirrel AI continues to expand, Zhang sees endless opportunities to bring its technology to new regions, languages, and learning needs. The ultimate goal is simple but ambitious: to move education away from the “assembly line” model and toward truly individualized learning for all.

If the company’s track record so far is any indication, that goal is well within reach — and millions of students stand to benefit.