Squirrel Ai was established in the intersection of this innovation and technology, marking itself the world’s first edtech brand to introduce AI-powered adaptive learning technology. Since then, the company has evolved to be a pioneer of adaptive education in China. The thoughtful initiatives carried out by Yihan Xu, Vice President of Squirrel Ai, have helped the company integrate foresight, innovation, and execution into its management practices.
With a career transition from media professional to a leading figure in the AI education sector, Yihan Xu is honored with the “Thought Leadership Award 2025” by The CEO Views. Through this narrative, Yihan took us on her leadership journey with Squirrel Ai, sharing the ups and downs that led her to this position.
A Passion Infused Entrepreneurship
Yihan’s professional sensitivity and understanding of the education industry have made her deeply aware of the limitations of traditional education. She was aware of issues such as unequal distribution of resources and standardized teaching, making it difficult to meet students’ needs. The “no exams, yet still leading the world” educational approach, standing in stark contrast with the then Chinese education system, in the Nordic region during her trip to study local education models in Northern Europe, moved her to the core. This compelled her to reflect on how to break free from the vicious cycle of academic pressure in China.
Around that time, her interview with Squirrel Ai’s founder and chairman, Mr. Derek Li, inspired her. “I was deeply inspired by his determination to use artificial intelligence to address educational inequality and his vision to bring the best educational resources to every child,” shared Yihan. After learning more about the company’s team of scientists, proprietary technologies, and independently developed intelligent tutoring system, she recognized AI’s power to achieve educational equity and drive education reform. Since then, there has been no looking back for Yihan as she continued to explore the field of AI-powered education.
Squirrel Ai’s Evolution
Since its inception in 2014, Squirrel Ai Intelligent Teacher has been dedicated to developing AI-powered adaptive learning technology. The company has successfully developed the first full-subject, multimodal adaptive education large model globally, purpose-built and vertically applied in education. Its full-subject multimodal adaptive education model can accurately identify each student’s learning gaps and generate personalized learning plans to effectively improve academic performance.
It has established over 3,000 offline learning centers across China through its “One School, One Center” initiative. To date, the company has partnered with over 60,000 public schools and serves more than 24 million students.
According to the 2024 White Paper on China’s Intelligent Learning Devices Industry by Frost & Sullivan, Squirrel Ai Intelligent Teacher has achieved the optimal integration of adaptive learning systems and educational hardware such as intelligent learning devices. Furthermore, the company is working with IEEE to develop technical standards for educational models, truly fulfilling its mission to “use technology to illuminate the last mile of educational equity.”
Apprehending Thought Leadership
In Yihan’s view, thought leadership means solving real-world problems through the power of thinking and driving progress in the industry. Squirrel Ai Intelligent Teacher believed AI integration to be a “must-answer question” and not a “multiple-choice option.” Its mission is to break the barriers of traditional education and leverage scalable technology to attain personalized learning. Yihan believes true thought leadership is when users, partners, and even competitors recognize and embrace this vision, and more people begin to believe in the future of AI-powered education.
A Tapestry of Knowledge and Experience
Yihan Xu’s journey from media, experience in planning and directing children’s events to the AI education sector has been a transformative one. “My media background endowed me with a sharp sense of market awareness, allowing me to accurately grasp industry trends and user demands,” adds Yihan. At the same time, her experience in children’s event management has made her aware of the pain points of traditional education and the need for personalized learning.
Yihan’s academic background in business administration has enabled her to deploy business strategies, optimize operational processes, and make sound decisions in a highly competitive environment. While managing teams, she emphasizes a data-driven approach and breaking free from conventional thinking, fostering collaboration between tech, marketing, and service departments. In her view, teams must first understand the logic behind the technology themselves to serve clients effectively.
Promoting Innovation
Yihan’s apprehension of innovation reflects emancipation from traditional thinking and models to seek more effective and higher-quality solutions. She has pioneered a new business partnership model within Squirrel Ai that encourages visionary entrepreneurs to join the company ecosystem.
It has helped the company expand its market reach, providing accessibility to personalized education for more children. This innovative model has ensured exponential growth in company performance, becoming the second growth curve for Squirrel Ai Learning.
On a personal level, Yihan has embraced innovation by participating in various learning programs, pursuing a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence, attending numerous forums of innovative practices in AI education in China, and partnering with leading institutions to further expand the business scope.
Vision for the Future
In the next five years, Yihan expects Squirrel Ai to go public and identify its global expansion strategy. With a goal to have a strong foothold in international markets, the company has infused technological innovation at its core. The company plans to increase its R&D investment to improve the personalization and precision of its products. Squirrel Ai is also committed to taking a leading role in setting industry standards, contributing to the healthy and sustainable development of the entire edtech sector.
Advices for Emerging Thought Leaders
Yihan Xu has shared some pieces of advice for emerging thought leaders that include a commitment to continuous learning, being bold in experimentation, prioritizing collaboration, staying user-focused, and creating social value.
“I believe that true thought leadership is not about lofty rhetoric — at its core, it’s about building trust, guiding the team in the right strategic direction, and creating the future.”
Yihan Xu,
Deputy General Manager
