Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the challenges faced by the public examination training industry, particularly focusing on the experiences of a student named Li Yi with a leading training institution, Zhong Gong Education, highlighting issues related to refund difficulties and the decline of the company's financial health [3][6][17]. Group 1: Company Overview - Zhong Gong Education is a leading provider of training services for national and provincial civil service examinations, having established itself as a benchmark in the vocational education sector since its inception in 1999 [5][20]. - The company experienced rapid revenue growth, peaking at nearly 27 billion yuan, and was once valued at over 260 billion yuan after going public in 2019 [22][23]. - The business model of "money-back guarantee" for training programs was initially seen as innovative, significantly reducing the risk for students and attracting a large number of enrollments [20][21]. Group 2: Financial Challenges - Since 2021, Zhong Gong Education has faced a continuous decline in revenue, with year-on-year decreases of 38.3%, 30.19%, 36.03%, and 14.89% from 2021 to 2024 [26]. - The company reported a total of 700 new litigation and arbitration cases from January 25 to July 15, 2025, with a total amount involved reaching 53.8 million yuan, which is 7.43% of its audited net assets for 2024 [18][19]. - The refund rate has surged, exceeding 65% since 2021, indicating that for every three payments received for guarantee programs, two had to be refunded [27]. Group 3: Operational Issues - Complaints regarding refund difficulties have become a prominent issue for Zhong Gong Education, with over 100,000 complaints related to refunds on consumer complaint platforms [17][18]. - The company has implemented a new refund policy, where students who enrolled in guarantee programs from 2022 to 2023 can only receive partial refunds, significantly extending the waiting period for refunds [33]. - The operational chaos during training sessions, including disorganized logistics and inadequate facilities, has led to dissatisfaction among students [8][10]. Group 4: Market Dynamics - The public examination training market is becoming increasingly competitive, with new entrants and alternative training methods emerging, leading to a decline in Zhong Gong Education's market share [40][41]. - The company is attempting to pivot towards AI-driven educational tools, but initial market responses have been lukewarm, and the financial impact of these new initiatives remains uncertain [42][43]. - The overall trend in the public examination sector indicates a growing number of candidates, with 2.83 million participants expected for the 2026 civil service examination, yet this has not translated into improved financial performance for Zhong Gong Education [30][33].

Core Viewpoint - The rapid development of generative AI technology is transforming various industries, including education, where companies like Fenbi are increasingly investing in AI to enhance their offerings and respond to market demands [1][4][10]. Group 1: AI Development in Education - OpenAI launched a version of ChatGPT tailored for higher education, named GPT-edu, to provide personalized services for students and teachers [1]. - Domestic companies such as NetEase Youdao, TAL Education, and Fenbi have begun developing their own educational AI models, with Fenbi introducing AI teachers and question-answering systems [2][4]. - Fenbi's president announced a commitment to increase AI R&D investment by 30% annually and collaborate with top institutions to build an educational AI model laboratory [7]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Competition - The public examination training market is facing intense competition, with Fenbi needing to enhance its product competitiveness through continuous investment in AI [4][29]. - Despite a high number of applicants for civil service exams, Fenbi's revenue and net profit have declined, indicating a challenging market environment [14][11]. - Fenbi's average monthly active users reached 9.3 million by June 30, but many users prefer more cost-effective options, impacting conversion rates to paid users [13]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Fenbi reported a revenue of 1.49 billion RMB for the first half of 2025, a decrease of 8.5% year-on-year, with net profit down 18.34% to 227 million RMB [14][15]. - Other major players in the public examination training sector, such as Zhonggong Education, also reported revenue declines, highlighting the competitive landscape [16][17]. Group 4: AI Product Performance - Fenbi's AI question-answering system has shown initial commercial success, with approximately 50,000 sales and revenue of around 20 million RMB [20]. - The AI question-answering system reportedly improved user learning efficiency by 29% to 40%, with average mock exam scores increasing by 15 to 20 points [24]. - The AI interview evaluation tool has seen significant engagement, with 470 million evaluations conducted and 350,000 users participating [26]. Group 5: Challenges and Future Outlook - Despite the promising start, AI has not yet significantly reduced costs or improved Fenbi's financial performance, as the company attributes cost reductions to overall revenue declines [27]. - Fenbi faces competition not only from other training institutions but also from AI model companies that offer free or lower-cost alternatives [35]. - The company must continue to innovate and provide effective, user-friendly AI products to capture market share and meet user expectations [36].