In an era when former tech executives are flocking to humanoid robots and smart wearables, Gu Jiawei has taken a decidedly different path. His startup, Ling Universe, is pioneering portable AI devices that merge technology with real-world experiences, with its flagship product, the "Xiaofangji," leading the charge.
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The compact Xiaofangji is more than a gadget—it embodies Gu's vision of AI as a companion, not just a tool. "In the future, AI is not just a tool, but a companion that can grow alongside people," Gu has said in interviews. His ambition is to develop AI that seamlessly bridges the virtual and the real world, becoming a partner for users as they explore, learn, and grow.
Gu's career has been deeply entwined with cutting-edge technology. After earning a graduate degree from Tsinghua University, he held key positions at Microsoft Research and the Baidu Institute of Artificial Intelligence. At just 28, he joined Baidu's "Young Commander Program," where he contributed to projects including Windows 8, Xbox Kinect, Baidu's self-driving cars, and image search.
His product leadership extended to consumer-facing innovations such as BaiduEye smart glasses, DuBike smart bicycles, DuLight, and FaceU, earning him the reputation of a "tech prodigy." But over a decade of building technical expertise convinced him of a larger truth: AI's true potential lies not in hardware accumulation alone but in breaking down the boundaries between the virtual and the physical worlds.
This realization led to the founding of Ling Universe in 2023 and the launch of Xiaofangji, an AI-powered educational companion designed to interact with children in both digital and real-world settings.
The Xiaofangji's reception has been remarkable. Upon launch, it topped both AI toys and all-toys sales charts during China's 6.18 shopping festival. Later, during Singles' Day (Double 11), it secured the top sales spot across multiple platforms, including JD.com and Tmall, achieving year-on-year sales growth of over 200%. The device's market success caught the attention of investors eager to back Ling Universe's innovative approach.
Within six months, Ling Universe completed three rounds of financing from a combination of venture capital and industry leaders. Backers include Linear Venture, Yaotu Capital, Tsinghua SEE Fund, Ginkgo Valley, SenseTime, 37 Interactive Entertainment, and Xueda Education.
Recently, the company closed a nearly 200 million yuan Pre-A series financing round. Investors included Guofang Innovation (a subsidiary of Shanghai International Group), Guotai Haitong, GF Xinde, Didi Chuxing, Koala Fund (under Lakala), Runjian Holdings, and several leading financial institutions. The funds are earmarked for R&D, international expansion, and further development of LingOS—the operating system that powers Ling Universe's AI devices.
Gu Jiawei emphasizes that Xiaofangji is not just a product—it is the first step toward creating an AI ecosystem capable of interacting naturally with the real world. In a conversation with ZhiKer, he explained that the decision to launch Xiaofangji grew out of a decade-long exploration of human-computer interaction.
"Projects like BaiduEye were about integrating AI into the physical world," Gu said. "At the time, the technology and market readiness weren't mature. The breakthrough of GPT gave us a new opportunity."
Two key considerations shaped Xiaofangji's development: the right entry point and the value of data. Targeting the younger generation—digital natives with high technology affinity—allowed Ling Universe to address a "high-frequency, rigid demand" in family education: the need for quality companionship. At the same time, Xiaofangji helps Ling Universe accumulate high-quality, contextualized data, which Gu considers the most valuable asset for building next-generation AI models.
"The essence of our hardware terminals is to serve as the eyes and ears of AI in the physical world, collecting first-person perspective data on how humans see, hear, and operate in real life," Gu explained. "Once AI masters knowledge from the text world and learns physical-world common sense, language becomes the most natural interface. A child can ask, ‘Why does that star twinkle?' and Xiaofangji will provide both poetic and scientific explanations."
Ling Universe also produces Luka, a desktop AI reading companion for children aged 0-8, which focuses on indoor picture book reading, knowledge Q&A, and habit formation. In contrast, Xiaofangji targets children aged 3-12 for outdoor exploration and interdisciplinary learning. Gu summarizes their positioning as "Read thousands of books, travel thousands of miles."
For example, Luka can recognize an English picture book and read it aloud with authentic pronunciation, while interacting with children about the images. Xiaofangji, on the other hand, allows children to photograph an insect in a park and ask, "What is this?" The device then offers explanations and related knowledge, transforming the environment into a classroom.
"Children often naturally transition from Luka to Xiaofangji as they grow, moving from indoor learning to exploring the world," Gu said.
Many current AI learning devices remain passive, relying on simple Q&A interactions. Ling Universe differentiates itself through LingOS, a 4D space-time interactive intelligent operating system. LingOS enables Xiaofangji to collect spatial data, record growth memory, predict behavior, and provide proactive guidance.
For example, when a child visits a historical site like Yue Fei Temple, Xiaofangji can trigger a character to tell historical stories in an interactive manner. In a park, a Darwin character may discuss biology based on photos the child takes. LingOS can remember past questions and extend knowledge chains over time, creating a "memory-association-inspiration" interaction model.
"AI is no longer just a tool," Gu explained. "It becomes a companion with personality, capable of emotional resonance and proactive engagement." Xiaofangji can detect a child's mood, offer comfort, or provide targeted guidance, transforming the learning process into a dynamic, personalized experience.
For parents, assessing the effectiveness of AI companions involves process data and performance outcomes. LingOS tracks question types, answer accuracy, usage duration, and long-term memory to generate personalized growth reports. Parents can observe improvements in curiosity, expressive abilities, and knowledge application.
"Our core value lies not in the number of knowledge points taught, but whether we awaken a child's intrinsic motivation to learn," Gu said.
Ling Universe's primary users are highly educated parents born in the 1980s and 1990s, who value holistic education and are familiar with technology. These parents are not merely consumers—they are co-explorers, supporting their children's AI-mediated learning journey.
Luka provides a stable revenue base, while Xiaofangji represents a new growth curve. The company is also pursuing global expansion. Luka has already been sold in 18 countries, giving Ling Universe valuable international experience. Future products and Xiaofangji will follow a "global products, local operations" strategy to adapt to the educational and cultural characteristics of different markets.
Gu envisions Ling Universe as more than an AI hardware company. "Within 3-5 years, I hope LingOS will become the foundational infrastructure for next-generation AI terminals, creating a new symbiotic ecosystem between humans and AI," he said.
He describes the next generation—so-called "AI natives"—as children who grow up with continuous AI companionship. These children will have a cognitive advantage, with a personalized AI advisor guiding them through learning, exploration, and creativity. Ling Universe aims to position itself as the company providing this symbiotic AI interaction, shaping how the next generation perceives and interacts with the world.
Ling Universe's roadmap extends beyond Xiaofangji and Luka, with products targeting both personal AI for individuals and ambient AI for environments. The vision is an AI ecosystem where every object—from storybooks to outdoor flora—becomes an interface for interaction, making the entire physical world a classroom.
As Gu puts it, "We are not building a single product; we are building the next generation of terminals and operating systems for human-machine interaction. Xiaofangji is just the beginning."
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