The Beginning: Not Waiting to Be Replaced, But Choosing to Evolve
Let’s rewind to early 2024, when generative AI was exploding across the internet. New tools and applications were popping up like wildfire—exciting, but also a little terrifying.
At that time, I had already been working in the cram school industry for nearly five years, doing everything from teaching, admin, to curriculum design.
Back then, I kept asking myself:
“Will my job still matter in the age of AI?”
It started as a curiosity—wondering which industries might get replaced by AI. But the more I thought about it, the heavier it felt.
Eventually, I flipped the question around:
If I’m going to be replaced someday, why not build the tool that replaces me?
That was the moment Dogtor was born.
Observations from the Frontline: Students Don’t Lack Motivation—They Just Can’t Sustain It
As someone who's worked closely with students for years, I realized something important:
Students don’t lack motivation. What they lack is rhythm and interaction to sustain that motivation.
Every student knows they should study more, play fewer games, and that good grades lead to better futures.
The real challenge is this: Once they decide to study, how long can they actually stick with it?
I’ve heard so many students say:
“Teacher, I really wanted to study today, but the moment I opened my textbook… I just reached for my phone instead.”
It’s not laziness. It’s that traditional study methods—worksheets, memorization, drills—are repetitive and boring.
There’s no interaction, no feedback, no dopamine.
Learning becomes a long, dull marathon. Eventually, students give up.
What they truly need is a smart assistant that helps sustain their learning momentum.
The Age of Fragmented Attention: Learning Tools Must Be Instant, Lightweight, and Engaging
As I spent more time with students, I also noticed a huge shift:
Their attention structure has changed in this era of fragmented content.
- They don’t watch 30-minute educational videos anymore—they prefer 3-minute Shorts or Reels
- They don’t need consoles or computers to play games—just a phone with real-time, fast-paced gameplay
- Their attention spans are shorter, and their feedback expectations are instant
So I started asking myself:
What if learning tools matched that same rhythm?
I imagined a scene:
During a 10-minute break at school, or on a metro ride, a student opens their phone—not just to scroll TikTok or play a game—but to complete a quick 3-minute learning session through an app.
It’s not just a study tool anymore—it becomes a habit, a seamless part of their daily life.
Learning no longer feels like pressure—it becomes a natural choice.
Dogtor Is Born: From an Idea to a Work-in-Progress App
As I write this post, it’s now June 2025.
Dogtor is about 60% complete, with most of the core features up and running. We’re actively testing, tweaking, and improving it every day.
Dogtor is an AI-powered learning companion that combines generative AI with interactive learning design.
It can recommend questions based on student level, generate personalized practice from past mistakes, and provide daily missions to encourage consistent progress with instant feedback.
But what matters most is:
This isn’t just my project.
I’m incredibly grateful to the teammates working alongside me—turning this crazy “AI learning buddy” idea into something real.
If I Had to Summarize It in One Sentence…
Dogtor doesn’t exist to replace teachers—it exists to help students go further, using the power of AI.
My hope is that one day, students in Taiwan will say,
“Thanks to Dogtor, studying actually feels fun—and I feel proud of myself again.”
This blog post is the first footprint of that journey.