Exploring New Educational Paradigms in the Age of AI

The 2026 World Digital Education Conference was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province from May 11 to 13.

More Scientific and Comprehensive Growth for Teachers and Students

At the Chongwen Century City Experimental School in Hangzhou, research director Xie Ying showcased the daily work of teachers. “We use voice input on our phones to evaluate students, and the system automatically collects this information into a data warehouse for each student.” This model not only enhances teacher efficiency but also establishes personalized and systematic growth data for students.

While recording student growth, this model also fosters teacher development. “Collaborative work allows teachers related to each child to come together, enabling young teachers to master effective teaching and nurturing methods through data analysis,” Xie Ying explained.

The application of AI in higher education is also noteworthy. In recent years, Zhejiang University has focused on creating a talent cultivation system that spans the entire lifecycle from awareness enlightenment to project incubation and ecological linking. “Cultivating critical thinking, innovative spirit, and creative ability remains the core of education that no technology can replace,” said Ma Yanming, president of Zhejiang University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “The application of AI will accelerate the shift from knowledge transmission to value guidance, capability shaping, and creative practice.”

Fair and Accessible Educational Outcomes

In the deep mountains of Qixi Town, Kaihua County, Zhejiang Province, the central school has only six classes with 72 students. Smart technology is helping them break educational resource barriers. “AI companion ‘Qian Xiaowa’ and smart terminals are transforming the mountains into vibrant classrooms,” shared Principal Wu Zhangde. “Children record plant growth through QR codes; ‘AI companion + online famous teachers’ help them perform on city-level cultural stages; and through AI real-time translation and cloud connections, they can even communicate with partners from sister schools in Indonesia.” Smart technology is continuously bridging the urban-rural education gap through personalized tutoring and resource sharing.

How does AI empower special education? At Hangzhou’s Yang Lingzi School, a circular screen named “Yang Ling Brain” allows each student to become a colorful “tree”: each branch represents different dimensions of student qualities, and each color indicates their development level, accurately recording and clearly presenting subtle changes in the children.

The AI companion “Ling Xiaozhi” has become the closest “desk mate” for the children. Especially in social communication classes for autism, this fluffy panda friend not only initiates conversations based on the children’s interests but also patiently guides them to express themselves. During emotional fluctuations, it provides comfort and solace through its soft touch.

Such digital educational scenarios are becoming a reality in more rural schools. During the conference, 118 outstanding practice cases were showcased at the global digital education achievement exhibition. Wang Hanzai, a researcher from the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone Education Bureau, explained that they are exploring pilot programs to build a digital linkage mechanism from quality urban schools to weak rural schools, gradually rooting the new ecology of teaching and learning restructured by AI in 129 primary and secondary schools across the district.

A More Diverse and Colorful Future of Education

“This year’s Chinese Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is the most cutting-edge part of the entire exhibition, especially the display of ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ which builds a dialogue between Chinese cultural dissemination and young art,” said Yu Xuhong, president of the China Academy of Art, during the conference’s first ’lightning talk’ session. He discussed their efforts over the past decade to initiate the China Design Manufacturing Award (DIA), advocating for humanistic intelligence, practical wisdom, and the integration of science and art, bridging academia, science, industrial design, and research systems.

Technology has brought new opportunities for art education, making it more diverse; it has also opened new opportunities for countries worldwide, making education more colorful. On May 12, the Global South Teacher Digital Literacy Enhancement Action Plan was launched at the parallel session of the conference titled ‘Preparing Teachers for Future Schools,’ initiated by the Global Teacher Development Academy Africa. According to the plan, developing countries will receive systematic support in the digital transformation of education, becoming a pragmatic measure for China to deepen South-South cooperation and participate in global education governance.

“China is a strong partner of UNESCO in its areas of expertise,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, during the conference. In addition to numerous cultural heritage sites, learning cities, and UNESCO Category II centers, China has also established the International STEM Education Research Institute under UNESCO, which will effectively promote the development of education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, helping cultivate talents with comprehensive abilities.

In this regard, Wang Jian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of Zhijiang Laboratory, shares a similar view. “AI is an important public product of technology,” Wang Jian said. “Looking to the future, more interdisciplinary collaboration in technology and engineering fields will become possible, and the integration of AI with technological infrastructure will unlock more possibilities for educational research.”