Squirrel Ai launches IEEE AI education standards group at ASU+GSV

By AI, Created 9:40 AM UTC, May 22, 2026, /AGP/ – Squirrel Ai Learning founder Derek Li announced a new IEEE working group on AI large model agents for education at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego. The effort aims to create the first global classification framework for AI education tools as schools and edtech companies race to set standards for quality, safety and access.

Why it matters: - The IEEE working group could help set the first global standards for AI-powered education tools. - The framework is meant to address uneven quality, unclear ethics and weak evaluation methods in AI education. - The work matters for schools, vendors and policymakers trying to adopt AI without widening access gaps.

What happened: - Derek Li, founder of Squirrel Ai Learning, announced the new IEEE Working Group on AI Large Model Agents for Education at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego from April 12 to 16, 2026. - Li chairs the working group. - The summit drew more than 10,000 participants from more than 100 countries. - Li introduced the working group during a featured session with Bart Selman and Curt Skotnicki of YMCA.

The details: - The working group includes Tom Mitchell, Bart Selman, Carles Sierra, Chris Dede and Stephen Ciesinski. - Senior leaders from Pearson, ETS and Khan Academy also joined the group. - The group plans to release the AI Education Intelligence Level Framework, or L0-L5, a classification standard for AI education agents. - L5 represents the highest level and includes multimodal capabilities, advanced reasoning engines, metacognitive support, real-time scaffolding and fully personalized learning pathways. - Squirrel Ai Learning says its Intelligent Teacher system has already demonstrated scalable L5-level capabilities in real-world use. - Squirrel Ai Learning says its platform serves more than 43 million registered students. - The company says it has collected more than 20 billion learning behavior data points. - Independent studies found its learning outcomes can exceed those of highly experienced educators while lowering delivery costs to about $10 per hour. - Squirrel Ai Learning says it has provided 12 million free learning accounts to underserved communities globally. - Curt Skotnicki said YMCA programs in the United States are using Squirrel Ai Learning technology across about 50 schools in nine districts in Los Angeles County. - The YMCA collaboration is aimed at helping with teacher shortages, scale constraints and high operating costs. - A pilot program is scheduled for this summer across after-school programs, summer courses and camps.

Between the lines: - The announcement marks a shift for Squirrel Ai Learning from selling AI education products to helping define international rules for the category. - The presence of major academics, industry leaders and nonprofit operators suggests the standards effort is trying to balance technical capability with classroom reality. - Bart Selman said educators and students must remain central to AI education, underscoring the push for a human-centered framework. - Li connected the effort to his own background, saying limited access to top teachers helped inspire his interest in scaling high-quality instruction through AI.

What’s next: - The IEEE group is expected to continue developing the L0-L5 framework. - The YMCA pilot will test learning outcomes and program performance this summer. - The standards work could influence how schools, education companies and regulators evaluate AI tools going forward.

The bottom line: - Squirrel Ai Learning is trying to move from AI education builder to global standards setter, and IEEE’s new framework may shape how the sector defines quality, safety and personalization.**