Youdao's AI Pen Now Explains Math Problems Like a Human Tutor
Youdao's Smart Pen Brings Classroom Teaching Home
The latest version of NetEase Youdao's AI Q&A Pen isn't just answering questions - it's teaching them. Dubbed Space X, the device now generates custom video explanations that mimic a teacher writing on a whiteboard, complete with voice narration and animated diagrams.
How It Works Differently
Traditional learning tools pull pre-recorded videos from question banks. Space X creates explanations on the fly:
- Dynamic visuals: Watch as the AI 'writes' solutions step-by-step
- Personalized pacing: Slows down for tricky concepts or speeds up upon request
- Style adjustments: Students can ask for "serious" or "funny" explanations
"It finally clicked when I saw the division problem drawn out," said one beta tester, a middle school student in Beijing. "Like when my favorite teacher explains something."
Beyond Video: The Full Package
The pen debuted last February aiming to solve home tutoring challenges. Recent additions include:
- Guided questioning that nudges students toward answers
- Satellite-inspired scanning for processing multi-part problems
- Real-time translation across 12 languages
These features helped the product line surpass ¥100 million in sales within its first year.
The Brains Behind the Operation
The system merges two specialized AI models:
- Ziyue
- Youdao's education-focused language model
- DeepSeek-R1
- Dedicated to mathematical reasoning
"We're not just making smarter gadgets," explained Youdao's hardware lead. "We're recreating that 'aha moment' when concepts become clear - except now it happens anytime, anywhere."
The company sees this as phase one in evolving educational hardware from answer machines to true teaching partners.
Key Points:
- First in China: Pioneering generative video for education tech
- Sales success: ¥100M+ revenue confirms market demand
- Technical duo: Combines language and logic-focused AI models
