Zuoyebang boosts safer e-learning
By Cheng Yu (China Daily) Updated：2018-11-19
Internet-based educator uses AI to guard students from unsuitable online content
Online education company Zuoyebang recently launched an AI-enabled platform as part of its broader push to offer young students safe online learning tools.
With the online education sector gaining momentum in China, an increasing number of students are using online tools to study. However, taking an internet-based approach to learning can expose children to unsuitable content.
The company's Zuoyebang Yike after-school tutoring platform allows students to take online courses from primary school to high school level.
To better protect students while online, Zuoyebang has built an information safety platform by leveraging its advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Called Cun Gong, the platform is able to filter information, and track unsuitable content and irregular student behavior.
"As we have 400 million young students learning on our platform, we hope to help educators and parents to guard against unfavorable factors when kids study online," said Li Boyang, co-founder of Zuoyebang.
"At the same time, we want to help kids to get used to using the internet in a safe and wise manner," he said.
One of Zuoyebang's major businesses is to allow students to take pictures of their questions and search for answers. With the new platform's help, improper pictures, such as pornographic or irrelevant material, can be quickly identified and removed.
In addition, the platform can also track irregular student online behavior, sending its analysis to the relevant teachers to alert them to improper use.
Earlier this year, the company launched free classes to teach girls about protecting their safety and rights. It has divided its online courses into three sections - teaching underage girls to cherish their bodies, raising awareness of sexual abuse and explaining how to respond to emergencies.
The company raised $350 million in its series-D financing this summer. Zuoyebang said it will use part of the funds to promote education resources for more students.
According to Zuoyebang, half of its paid users are in third to sixth-tier areas in China.
"We will continue to undertake charity work in an innovative way. We will continue to fill the gap in education resources through advanced technologies," said Hou Jianbin, founder and CEO of Zuoyebang.
chengyu@chinadaily.com.cn
