In September 2024, children interact with a robotic dog during the “AI Planet Adventure” national tour in Binzhou City, Shandong Province.

A "Long March in Science Popularization" spanning mountains and rivers is unfolding across China, from the snow-capped plateaus to the eastern coast, and from the northeastern mountainous regions to the southwestern borderlands. In the drive to promote technological innovation and popularize science, iFLYTEK, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company, is not only committed to promoting the application of technologies in various industries, but also upholds the principle of "Tech for Good," enabling technology to bridge gaps between urban and rural areas, and transcend barriers of ability, disability and language.

How important is science popularization? President Xi Jinping once emphasized that "scientific and technological innovation and science popularization are the two wings to propel our innovation-driven development, and the latter should be considered as important as the former." In the era where AI is leading a new wave of technological revolution, science popularization has become increasingly significant and meaningful. It can help cutting-edge technologies go out of the "ivory tower" and into thousands of households, allowing every ordinary person to enjoy the dividends of scientific and technological development.

AI + education: Bridging gaps in learning

Education is the largest public welfare undertaking and the fundamental strategy for breaking the intergenerational transmission of poverty. In November 2024, the Chinese Ministry of Education issued a notice to strengthen AI education in primary and secondary schools, clearly proposing that AI will be taught in all primary and secondary schools by 2030, charting the course for its development at these levels. iFLYTEK leverages AI technology to promote educational equity, enabling high-quality educational resources to bridge regional gaps and helping every child enjoy fair and high-quality education.

At the No. 5 Middle School in Puyang County, central China's Henan Province, teachers are using smart blackboards to bring a high-tech edge to their classrooms. More than just a surface for writing, the iFLYTEK AI blackboard acts as an intelligent teaching assistant. It employs sound field equalization technology to minimize the volume difference between the front and back positions in the classroom to within 5 decibels, ensuring students in the back row can hear the lecture clearly. It also features an anti-glare screen so that students sitting in the corners can clearly see the content written on the blackboard.