'Super students' ride tide of AI innovation

At just 14, Zhang Shaoqing's prowess with AI tools means he could easily be included in the ranks of the new wave of "super students" but it's a description he balks at.

"Daring to imagine and daring to try is encouraging, but it's also a kind of pressure; it's as if I'm not a good student unless I've built something," said the ninth-grader at Wuxi Dipont School of Arts and Science in Jiangsu province.

"I don't want to be defined as a 'super student.' I would rather be seen as an ordinary student who has stayed passionate about one field for a long time," he added.

His mother Liu Liwei, who has encouraged his development and interests, is also uncomfortable with the super student label, which has recently gained online traction.

Many youngsters involved in sophisticated technology projects are not necessarily way ahead of others, but have benefited from opportunities, guidance and supportive environments, she said. "I always remind him not to think he is better than others. He has simply received opportunities that many students may not have had," said Liu.

From developing artificial intelligence tools for schools to creating digital content, a growing number of Chinese teenagers are moving from technology users to creators, offering a glimpse into how they are exploring opportunities and challenges in the AI era.

In recent years, Chinese school students have begun participating in AI competitions, open-source communities and industry-linked innovation programs once mainly associated with university students and professionals.

Tencent Youth Tech Training Camp, launched in 2016, has attracted more than 900,000 users to its platform, partnered with over 2,000 schools and accumulated more than 40,000 works as of September 2026.

Dong Xinye, deputy director of the Youth Innovation Education Center at Shenzhen InnoX Academy, an education program that aims to nurture innovative talent for the AI era through project-based learning, said teenagers' participation in AI and innovation programs has grown significantly in recent years.

"What was once a niche interest among a small number of technology enthusiasts has gradually become a mainstream way for young people to explore the world," said Dong.