Companies that have been developing artificial intelligence (AI) digital textbooks are restructuring. This is because the Ministry of Education decided to maintain the status of AI textbooks this year, but leave it to the school's autonomy to adopt them, resulting in a greater deterioration in profitability than expected.

This year, only 3,849 AI textbooks out of 11,921 elementary, middle and high schools nationwide were introduced, with only 32.3% of the adoption rate. An industry official said, "We expected to fully introduce AI textbooks to schools nationwide and made huge investments, but it is a big blow. As losses increase, companies are reducing existing business units and restructuring manpower."

According to the industry on the 27th, genius textbooks have begun restructuring their workforce. Centering on 'Milkty', the digital learning site business division of Genius Textbooks, it is pushing for a reduction in business units and manpower. An official from Genius Education explained, "We lost a lot of money as the full introduction of AI textbooks ran aground," adding, "We are discussing reducing our business department and improving manpower efficiency, but the number of people to be reduced has not yet been determined."

Woongjin Thinkbig, which failed the AI textbook screening process last year, recently decided to withdraw its business. An official from Woongjin ThinkBig said, "We have decided to withdraw from related projects as policy uncertainties related to AI textbooks continue."

Emergency education also reduced its business units related to AI textbooks earlier this year. The restructuring was carried out by relocating the manpower of the business unit of the elementary and secondary smart learning brand OnlyOne to other departments.

Another industry official said, "The industry has been increasing investment by believing in the government's policy of introducing mandatory AI textbooks, but it is not possible to invest only by trusting the government's roadmap as policy uncertainty grows further due to the impeachment."

AI textbooks, which were promoted by the Ministry of Education as an emphasis project, faced difficulties last year, with the National Assembly passing an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which defines educational materials rather than textbooks.

[Juyeon Reporter]