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, n = 153) and those using only traditional methods (control group, n = 160). The Motivation and Engagement Scale measured outcomes, and an independent t-test compared group differences...