Summary of Key Points
The widespread adoption of AI has made the acquisition of knowledge as affordable as water and electricity, directly challenging the traditional education and training industry's business model, which relies on efficiency to sell knowledge (such as practicing questions to improve scores, studying in advance, and exploiting information asymmetries). Educational institutions that survive in the future will focus on their core competencies, which AI cannot replace: cultural continuity, community socialization, long-term companionship, shared experiences, and value shaping. The changes in the North American Chinese education and training ecosystem are a reflection of this transformation.
1. AI first targets standardized education methods like question practice for score improvement
The parts of traditional education that rely most on efficiency—such as practicing math problems for competitions, preparing for exams like SAT, or studying concepts ahead of time—are the first to be impacted by AI. These tasks have clear issues and fixed solutions, making AI more patient, faster, and cheaper than humans. For example, ChatGPT can break down complex math problems step by step, more reliably than a tutor.
Felix notes that many educational institutions' main selling point is being “one year ahead of schools,” but AI can do this even faster and at a lower cost. The information asymmetries (such as exclusive question banks and test prediction techniques) and repetitive training that used to be valuable in education are rapidly losing their value.
2. Some forms of education are difficult for AI to replace
Not all educational activities will be affected by AI; there are aspects that AI simply cannot handle:
- Chinese language education: Parents are not just buying tools for learning pinyin and characters; they are seeking cultural continuity. Weekend Chinese schools provide children with a Chinese-speaking environment to prevent them from completely disconnecting from the Chinese language community, which AI translation cannot replicate.
- High-end college admissions counseling: While AI can analyze admission probabilities, parents value the comfort of having someone to make decisions together. The key is not just polishing application documents but the trust and emotional support provided by a consultant who says, “Let’s find a solution together.”
- Collaborative projects: For instance, in robot competitions, children need to design, debug, and work late into the night; these experiences build long-term relationships that AI cannot replace.
3. In the future, education will focus on providing “social spaces” and communities
Many traditional offline institutions have quietly transformed into social hubs. For example, math competition classes in Silicon Valley are not just about learning AMC problems but also about creating a community of peers, where parents exchange resources for college admissions and even start businesses together.
Felix uses the EMBA program as an example: People spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on business schools not for the classroom knowledge (which is available online) but for the network of like-minded individuals. The competition in education will no longer be about whose courses are better but about who can build stronger communities.
4. Small, focused “educational communities” will be more popular
Large institutions with standardized processes (question banks, research and development, mass production) will face increasing challenges, while smaller ones can offer personalized and deep-level support that AI cannot provide:
- For example, Felix adapts the English examples he uses for his daughter to “Harry Potter” stories and for his son to baseball scenarios—such tailored content is beyond the capabilities of large companies.
- Young people today have access to plenty of information but lack feedback from someone who knows them well over the long term. Small institutions can provide continuous support, helping them find their direction amidst many options, while AI can only offer standard answers.
5. Education returns to its essence: environment and human influence
AI has made knowledge less scarce, bringing education back to a more fundamental question: in what environment do children grow up and with whom do they spend time?
For instance, when Felix takes his children on trips abroad, they may not remember all the historical facts, but they learn how to handle unexpected situations and interact with others. These aspects of education happen outside of the classroom, through long-term interactions. In the future, parents will focus more on “who their children grow up with and what values they develop.”
In conclusion: AI does not destroy education; it redefines it by shifting its focus from a “race of knowledge efficiency” to the essential aspects of human development—environment, companionship, and connection—elements that AI cannot take away.