AI programming curriculum set to nurture future generations

Chinese online education platform Xueersi rolled out a revamped AI programming curriculum recently, aiming to nurture a new generation of tech-savvy students as the country accelerates efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into education.

The company unveiled its four-pronged upgrade to its programming education system, encompassing new tools, teaching methodologies, curriculum content, and learning formats.

The launch drew experts from both academia and industry, including Stanford University computer science professor emeritus James Landay and senior representatives from the China Association for Artificial Intelligence.

"We're seeing a turning point where AI is reshaping programming education itself," said Tian Mi, CTO of Xueersi. He introduced the company's proprietary Aladdin platform, which allows students to build applications using natural language prompts, bypassing the need for traditional coding skills.
The move came as Beijing ramps up efforts to embed AI education into the national curriculum. Following guidelines issued in late 2024, China's Ministry of Education in May released two new documents including a general AI education guide for primary and secondary schools and a usage guide for generative AI in classrooms.

To enhance academic rigor, Xueersi has appointed Stanford's James Landay as an academic advisor. Landay praised the curriculum's project-based learning model as "a compelling example of technology-empowered education" that resonates with Stanford's own pedagogical philosophy.

Earlier this week, Xueersi also announced partnerships with several organizations to build out its AI education ecosystem.