Riiid Rebrands as 'Sokra AI,' Declares Entry into Education GPT Market

Riiid Reborn as 'Sokra AI' with a Vision of 'AI that Fosters Human Growth' AI edutech company Riiid has undergone a major name change to ‘Sokra AI,’ expressing a strong commitment to educational innovation that awakens human potential. This name change is more than just an alteration of a name; it embodies a firm vision to implement ‘AI that fosters human growth’ that leads to genuine growth through a process where learners ask questions, explore, and find answers themselves, much like the Socratic method of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. Sokra AI plans to fully unveil an innovative ‘Educational GPT Sokra AI’ open beta service, specialized for education, this December. This GPT will not immediately present correct answers like a typical AI chatbot, but rather act as a unique learning partner that guides learners to think independently and explore deeply. Its focus is on broadening one’s scope of thought through questions and maximizing the sense of achievement and learning efficiency that comes from finding answers on one’s own. Park Soo-young, CEO of Sokra AI, emphasized, "The era where everyone can maximize their potential through their own 'AI personal tutor' is approaching," and expressed their ambition, saying, "At a time when AI that promotes human growth, beyond just a smarter AI, is urgently needed, we will usher in a future where every learner has their own 'AI Socrates.'" This reflects the philosophy that AI technology should evolve beyond merely a tool for knowledge transfer, becoming an assistant that stimulates human critical thinking and curiosity, thereby aiding essential growth. Since its founding in 2014, Sokra AI has attracted a massive investment of approximately 200 billion KRW from SoftBank Group’s Vision Fund, gaining recognition for its technology and potential. Currently, through its ‘Santa’ brand, it provides leading English learning solutions for tests like TOEIC and TOEFL, already supporting the growth of numerous learners. Notably, its capabilities were further strengthened through a successful merger with Qualson, a specialized language education edutech company, in 2024, with CEO Park Soo-young leading innovation as the head of the integrated entity. Furthermore, in anticipation of the full revision of the TOEFL exam in January 2026, it proactively launched the ‘Santa TOEFL’ website last July, demonstrating a swift response to market changes. Sokra AI has now moved beyond being a mere learning tool and is ready to usher in a new era as a true AI education partner that awakens human potential and aids in independent growth.