Core Insights - The high school entrance examination (Gaokao) volunteer application market is significant, with a paid scale expected to reach 1.02 billion yuan in 2024 and surpass 1.2 billion yuan by 2027, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 26.8% from 2016 to now [1][2][9] Market Overview - The market for Gaokao volunteer application services has grown from 130 million yuan in 2016 to over 1 billion yuan today, indicating a strong demand for these services [1][9] - 88.1% of high school students are willing to choose volunteer application services, highlighting the anxiety surrounding the importance of making the right choices [9] Key Players - Zhang Xuefeng, a prominent education influencer, has a significant market share in this sector, with estimates suggesting it may exceed 50% [9] - His educational institution, Fengxue Future, continues to provide high-priced volunteer application services, with packages priced at 12,999 yuan and 18,999 yuan, which are in high demand [4][9] Industry Dynamics - Major tech companies like Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent have launched AI volunteer application products, emphasizing free, intelligent, and convenient services [1][10] - These products are designed to integrate into existing apps, providing a competitive edge in the market [12] User Experience and Challenges - Users have reported varying results from different AI volunteer application products, raising questions about the reliability of the algorithms and data used [14][16] - The AI products are perceived as somewhat "template-based," and users often need to refine their queries to obtain satisfactory results [16][17] Future Outlook - The competition among tech giants and educational institutions in the volunteer application market is expected to intensify, with a focus on capturing the digital education entry point and developing future AI applications [15][17] - Despite current limitations, the potential for innovation in AI volunteer application products remains promising, as they are intended to serve as powerful tools for users rather than replacements for human guidance [17]