Since AI burst onto the scene, industries across the board have been embracing AI-powered solutions. Now, this transformative wave is making its way into the printing sector.

On September 9th, JD.com and Epson jointly launched what they claim to be the world's first AI learning printer. This innovative product targets core academic subjects such as language arts and mathematics, introducing three groundbreaking features: AI essay correction, AI math problem checking, and AI spelling error detection.

For many parents, homework supervision has long been a patience-testing endeavor, often turning household routines into chaotic daily battles. In recent years, some parents have begun leveraging AI tools to assist with homework checking and study planning.

However, many parents have discovered that while AI tools reduce homework supervision time, the convenience of smartphones and tablets makes it easy for children to inadvertently access entertainment apps. This unintentionally increases children's screen time, which many parents find concerning.

A parenting blogger on Xiaohongshu shared her experience of previously using AI to generate math problems and check essays for her child. She also attempted to print AI-generated content using conventional printers, but encountered issues such as garbled text and unclear formatting.

Epson's newly launched AI printer features three "AI Learning Assistant" functions available through WeChat mini-programs: AI essay correction, AI math problem checking, and AI spelling error detection.

These three innovative functions leverage partnerships with AI providers including Doubao Enterprise Edition and Hanwang Tiandi large language models, with specialized algorithm optimization. Users can complete the process through three simple steps: "smartphone capture," "cloud print import," and "one-click generation & printing of correction results," instantly producing clearly formatted, professionally accurate correction outputs.

Based on the printed results, the AI essay correction function allows users to select correction models, writing styles, and grade levels when uploading photos of essays. Beyond basic text corrections, it provides comprehensive guidance including emotional encouragement, sentence optimization, writing concept expansion, and vocabulary enhancement modules.

Additionally, the AI math checking feature rapidly identifies and marks incorrect answers, appending correct reference solutions at the end of worksheets for quick parent verification or flexible folding use. The AI spelling correction function quickly and accurately identifies spelling errors, missing characters, and punctuation issues while providing contextual corrections to help children strengthen their language fundamentals.

All output content is designed with fonts, sizes, and colors optimized for children's reading habits, significantly enhancing the paper-based learning experience and efficiency.

This approach allows children to read directly on paper, creating an immersive learning environment without distractions from other electronic device content.

Epson also unveiled its "Epson Home Printing AI Strategy" that day. Moving forward, Epson will continue expanding scenario-based AI printing functions, introducing new "AI Learning Assistant" modules such as AI English essay correction and AI English vocabulary practice. This means AI technology enables printer functionality to evolve from static features to continuously upgradeable capabilities.

Epson plans to deploy "AI Learning Printer" experience zones across 3,000 Epson stores nationwide, plus over 3,000 JD.com Home and JD.com MALL offline retail locations.

As AI technology rapidly advances, JD.com launched its "AI Renewal Acceleration Plan" in early 2024, partnering with multiple brands to accelerate AI adoption across various terminal devices and drive market penetration. From AI laptops and smartphones to AI tablets, AI learning devices, AR glasses, and AI robots, JD.com is collaborating with brands to bring AI into reality, comprehensively enhancing office and learning efficiency.

This creates new opportunities for the hardware industry. According to Wu Shuangxi, Vice President of JD.com Group and Head of the 3C Digital Business Unit, "Over the past two years, AI-related hardware products have shown tremendous growth. AI laptop and tablet sales increased 150% year-over-year, AI smartphone sales quadrupled, and other AI hardware categories also demonstrated exceptional market enthusiasm."

Beyond the joint AI printer launch, JD.com and Epson also held a signing ceremony for their commercial printer business "Enterprise Success Plan." Both parties will focus on upgrading government and enterprise customer benefits and service capabilities, leveraging JD.com's connections with over 8 million business customers through dedicated policy support, deep customer operations, SME procurement model innovation, and comprehensive marketing resource coordination to identify new growth opportunities.

The new wave of AI-driven hardware iteration may present fresh opportunities for hardware companies and retail platforms like JD.com that have established strong consumer mindshare in the 3C electronics space.