Zoho Launches Classes 2.0 With AI-Driven Features for Education

Zoho has introduced Classes 2.0, a significant upgrade to its learning management platform that integrates artificial intelligence across various administrative and academic functions. The new version includes a subject-specific AI tutor, automated lesson planning, and AI-assisted grading designed to reduce the administrative burden on educators. By incorporating these tools, Zoho aims to streamline classroom management for institutions and improve engagement for students who increasingly identify as digital natives.

Developed over five years, the platform responds to systemic challenges faced by students, teachers, and educational institutions in India. The redesign replaces cumbersome manual processes like shared Excel sheets for lesson planning with automated workflows. According to internal data, these features could save teachers approximately 150 hours of manual grading work per semester, allowing academic staff to focus more on direct student interaction and classroom engagement.

Zoho is making Classes 2.0 free for all central and state government institutions to prevent budget constraints from hindering education technology adoption. Private institutions face a monthly fee of ₹500 per teacher, while individual instructors can access a free tier for up to 100 students. The platform supports 22 Indian languages and ensures compliance with accreditation reporting for bodies like the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to assist universities and colleges.