AI grading machine helps teachers get back to teaching

As the new autumn semester begins in China, teachers are returning to a familiar scene: stacks of homework waiting to be graded. However, in an increasing number of schools, artificial intelligence is being used to help lighten the load.

iFlytek's Spark intelligent marking machine, powered by the company's large language model, is now being piloted in schools across Shenzhen, Shanghai, and other cities. The desktop device integrates scanning, grading, and printing capabilities, handling everything from multiple-choice questions to math word problems, and Chinese or English essays. It can even identify specific error types and generate detailed class-level and individual student performance reports, according to iFlytek.

For teachers, the impact is tangible. At Shenzhen Longhua Senior High School, math teacher Xu Sijie reports saving more than 1.5 hours daily on grading. In Putian No 2 Experimental Primary School, an English teacher said three classes of essays can be processed in about 10 minutes each, with the machine offering not just error detection, but also revision suggestions.

Nationwide, the device has cut teachers' repetitive grading time while increasing the time they can devote to personalized instruction and lesson planning, iFlytek said.

Yet, iFlytek's vision is not about replacing teachers. The company emphasizes a "human-machine collaborative" approach: machines handle the repetitive work and generate data-driven insights, while teachers focus on what truly matters — understanding each student's struggles, offering encouragement, and inspiring growth.

AI's greatest value in education lies not in automating teaching, but in freeing educators to do what they do best: teach, iFlytek said.