<p>In today’s world, where digital technologies are integral to education, studying the effectiveness of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) is vital for optimizing learning. This study evaluates the Squirrel AI Learning platform’s impact on motivation and engagement among higher education students in Shanghai. A survey was conducted with students using Squirrel AI alongside traditional curricula (experimental group, <i>n</i> = 153) and those using only traditional methods (control group, <i>n</i> = 160). The Motivation and Engagement Scale measured outcomes, and an independent t-test compared group differences. Additionally, one-way ANOVA assessed age, gender, and academic performance factors in the experimental group. Results indicated that Squirrel AI positively influenced motivation and engagement, with significant improvements in Self-efficacy, Valuing, Task Management, Failure Avoidance, Uncertain Control, and Self-handicapping. Gender and academic performance showed notable differences, while age had no significant effect. ITS use in higher education can personalize learning, improving effectiveness and enhancing students’ motivation and engagement. Universities should consider adopting such systems for large courses to foster individualized, motivated learning experiences. Considering students’ demographics and performance will help create learning scenarios that best meet individual students’ needs. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the study’s short duration and its limited cultural and geographic scope. Future research is needed to explore long-term effects and generalizability across diverse contexts.</p>