Alibaba Group Holding has invested approximately 200 million yuan (US$27.6 million) in Zhejiang Jingzhunxue, an AI education start-up, as the Chinese e-commerce giant continues its substantial investments in the AI sector.
Jingzhunxue, based in Hangzhou, announced that the funding from Alibaba will support the development and promotion of its AI-powered education device, Bong. This device, powered by Alibaba’s Qwen model and Jingzhunxue’s self-developed large language model (LLM), is designed to be a personalized and interactive teaching tool for students. Bong offers AI-generated video lessons delivered by digital teachers and is scheduled for launch in June.
Jingzhunxue's CEO, Yang Renbin, highlighted that the primary challenge in personalized education lies in the limitations on the supply side. He noted that China faces a significant shortage of educators for its vast student population. “AI is expected to completely resolve the challenge of achieving personalized teaching on a large scale,” said Yang, who previously served as a technology director at Alibaba.
This investment reflects a broader trend among Chinese technology firms, from established Big Tech companies to emerging start-ups, who are eager to capitalize on generative AI technologies across various industries. Jingzhunxue, for instance, focuses on revolutionizing the education sector through AI.
Alibaba has shown a keen interest in generative AI start-ups, aiming to develop leading alternatives to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The company's investment strategy underscores its commitment to advancing AI applications and integrating them into diverse fields, including education.
Overall, Alibaba's substantial investment in Jingzhunxue demonstrates its strategic focus on AI-driven innovations and its belief in the transformative potential of AI to address critical challenges in education, thereby enhancing learning experiences for students in China.
