Youdao AI homework pen tops ¥100M sales within first year

Summary

Chinese edtech firm Youdao, part of NetEase, has reported that its AI-native hardware product "Youdao AI Answering Pen" has generated more than 100 million yuan (roughly $14 million) in sales within a year of launch. The device uses on-device and cloud AI to help students scan questions from textbooks and homework sheets, then provides step-by-step explanations rather than just final answers. For Youdao, which has been repositioning itself as an "AI-powered learning solutions" provider, the strong hardware uptake suggests Chinese parents are increasingly comfortable with AI tutors embedded into everyday study routines. It also highlights how domestic education players are differentiating from generic chatbots by tightly controlling content, curriculum alignment and parental controls. If the momentum continues, AI-native learning gadgets could become a key battleground where local players like Youdao and ByteDance’s education spinoffs build ecosystems separate from global LLM platforms.