ByteDance-owned education app Gauth AI, which helps school-aged children with their homework using generative AI, has seen a surge in popularity recently, reaching #2 in the Education category in both Apple and Google’s app stores. With more than 10 million downloads on Android phones alone, the app has been credited with supporting over 200 million students. However, its Chinese ownership raises concerns as ByteDance’s TikTok is facing scrutiny from lawmakers in Washington D.C.
Unlike TikTok, Gauth is specifically designed for educational purposes, offering AI assistance to solve homework problems by taking a photo of assignments. The app resembles a China-based ByteDance app called “Hippo Learning” and also offers a paid “Plus” version that connects students with tutors in various subjects. In addition, Gauth provides homework timers, reminders, an AI Study Buddy, and lofi beat soundtracks, along with a system of in-app purchase points.
Gauth has quickly gained popularity amidst ByteDance’s ongoing challenges, as lawmakers in the United States push for the company to sell its stake in TikTok due to concerns about Chinese government influence and surveillance. However, Gauth’s focus on math and the hard sciences also includes a chatbot that can answer questions about social sciences and the humanities, providing uncensored responses to sensitive topics related to China and its government.
The education sector has been of interest to ByteDance, leading to the launch of its primary education brand, Dali, in 2020 and a further expansion of education offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a crackdown by the Chinese government on education apps in late 2021 resulted in layoffs at ByteDance, prompting the company to find new ways to reenter the market. Gauth’s emergence as a popular education app could offer a solution for children’s educational needs amidst increasing scrutiny of ByteDance’s other platforms.
Some U.S. lawmakers view Gauth as a positive addition to children’s screen-time activities, with Senator Ted Cruz praising ByteDance’s Douyin for promoting educational videos in China. However, concerns about privacy have been raised, particularly regarding the sharing of user information with other companies within ByteDance’s corporate group, including those based in China. Gauth’s privacy policy states that collected information can also be shared with other entities within ByteDance.
Questions about data access from China have also been raised, with Gauth stating that a limited number of employees who need access for their job can view Gauth data. Despite these concerns, Gauth continues to offer AI homework assistance to students, with the chatbot powered by OpenAI technology through a Microsoft Azure license. As ByteDance navigates challenges with its other platforms, the popularity of Gauth suggests a potential avenue for growth and innovation in the education technology sector.
