Geniebook's CEO sees the platform as a win for students and a reassurance for anxious parents

In 2017, Geniebook set a precedent for innovation in education with its nascent adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), standing out in a year marked by notable tech releases like Apple's priciest iPhone, Tesla's Model 3, and the Nintendo Switch. "Our journey began with the insight that technology has the potential to profoundly alter the teaching and learning landscape," Neo Zhizhong, co-founder and CEO, tells me at the AI edutech learning platform’s four-month-old hybrid learning hub, Geniebook CAMPUS.

You might think a tuition-esque centre in a discussion about The Business of Learning is a tad too on the nose. But that's only if you see success solely in grades and scores. With Geniebook, Neo wants to give his young customers not just A1s but time. "We want students to achieve their best with minimal time and stress. Academic success is vital, but so are other interests that make life richer and more engaging." Minimum efforts with maximum results? I'm sold.

Tiger Mom no more

For his other customers — the parents, that is — Neo promises assurance. Not knowing their child's academic progress has made many parents err too generously on the side of caution, giving rise to overly anxious parents and Tiger Moms.

Neo wants to change all that. "Instead of leaving parents in the dark until exam or assessment time and wondering how their child is performing, we provide AI-generated reports," Neo explains. "These reports give parents real-time insights, reduce stress for parents, and keep them informed at any time."

These reports became more pertinent when Singapore announced the removal of mid-year exams for all primary and secondary schools. While Neo agrees it's a positive move, it also widens the gap in understanding a student's progress — now at a national level.

"With Geniebook, we can show them exactly how their child is doing. This allows parents to follow their child's progress closely, not just at mid-year or final exams, but consistently, offering clear visibility on where their child might need extra support."

How Geniebook works

By now, I hope you can see that Geniebook isn’t just another tuition centre rehashing classroom content; it transcends traditional education. Neo's aim is to streamline learning, minimising academic time to maximise room for other passions. Neo takes me on a walk-through of Geniebook's web software, pointing out its various features that allude to this. 

One is GenieSmart, an AI-powered question bank that identifies a student's strengths and weaknesses and tailors its recommendations accordingly. "Say you excel in algebra," Neo tells me, a writer, rhetorically. "GenieSmart will challenge you with fewer questions in that area. However, if you're struggling with integration, it'll focus more on that." 

The software does this by examining past attempts and comparing them against the other users' performance. From there, an AI model scrutinised the student's successes and missteps. "It's about understanding what you got right and where you faltered, then recommending the most effective question to enhance your grasp of a concept for future success."

This customised educational method enables students of various abilities to learn together in one class, each receiving personalised attention to meet their unique needs — a feat traditional classrooms, which often cater to the mean, cannot accomplish.

Agreeing, Neo assures me: "Technology can accommodate these differences and allow students with varied abilities to learn together in the same environment. This diversity in strengths and weaknesses is just part of being human, don't you think?"

The ideal of hybrid learning

Neo's understanding of the human condition and our need for interaction and connection is why he launched a physical campus at United Square. "Technology has its limits, Zat. No digital tool can replicate the warmth and encouragement of a pat on the back. The nuances of face-to-face interaction, such as a teacher recognising when a student is having a bad day and adjusting their approach accordingly, are invaluable," Neo reiterates. 

He further reveals that many students and parents still value physical interaction. "They believe in the importance of personal touch in education, a reminder that despite technology's advancements, the need for human connection persists." The Genie CAMPUS is Neo's solution to that inevitable need.

It represents the ideal of hybrid learning, where teaching isn’t just about lectures. Teachers know students’ strengths and weaknesses in advance, focusing first on widespread challenges while offering tailored support during task completion.

Thus far, the strategy has worked. Feedback on Geniebook CAMPUS, though it's only been operational for three months, has been overwhelmingly positive. And Neo is optimistic that it will continue to reap rewards. "This technology integration into a centuries-old traditional model represents a significant leap forward, showing that educational evolution, not replacement, is our goal."

Beyond imaginary lines

Beyond Singapore, Geniebook can also be found in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The desire to go regional stems from Neo's ethos that 'education shouldn't be separated by an imaginary line drawn in the sea'. He believes education is a considerable leveller for closing the gap in social inequality.

“In Vietnam, for instance, we're making a difference by linking students to global opportunities through key subjects like Math, Science, and English."

Closer to home, Geniebook also has a financial assistance scheme that helps students from lower-income families. Neo also works with philanthropic organisations to help as many students as possible get a leg-up in life. These initiatives, however, are things Neo and his team seldom speak of, emphasising that "when we do corporate social responsibility, it has to come from a place of pure intention without a marketing angle".

As we approach the close of this interview, I ask Neo, to what end all this? "The idea is that whenever we make something new, like AI or any tech that came before it, we're doing it to improve life and improve our standard of living," he explains. "With the younger generation, if we can find a way to make learning better for them, we're not just improving their futures — we're improving all of ours."