Nearly $4,500 Turns Kids into CEOs at AI Research Camp, Triggering Parental Anxiety

According to Donut Research, this summer, AI research camps have become a new trend among parents. Some are charging nearly 30,000 yuan to have children under 10 wear CEO and CTO badges, memorize scripts, and participate in startup roadshows. Some institutions even claim that children can establish an AI company in just 6 days.

These courses play on parents' most direct fear: that other children are already learning AI, creating products, and even raising funds, leaving their own children behind in the era. What these institutions are selling is not just a course but a psychological reassurance ticket that "your child is not falling behind".

However, an investigation by China Newsweek found that the "AI content" of many projects is not high. So-called visits to tech giants and universities may only involve sightseeing, taking photos, and getting a stamp. When children cannot answer technical questions, the guiding teacher steps in. A "Large-scale Model Practical Camp" charging 15,000 yuan may ultimately only teach how to use AI for creating PowerPoint presentations and copywriting.

Similarly, the quality of instructors varies widely. Some teaching staff have only received a few days of training and have no relevant AI background. One industry insider stated that "over 90% of the entire AI education market is just fooling around".

True AI education requires long-term training, professional instructors, and a comprehensive curriculum. Packaging children as "8-year-old product managers" or "10-year-old CEOs" seems more like showcasing results to parents rather than actually equipping children with technical skills. What parents may spend thousands on is likely just a carefully staged children's entrepreneurship performance.