AI competitions give high school students hands-on experience in machine learning, AI ethics, and creative problem-solving through global and national challenges. Students build real-world projects, strengthen teamwork and critical thinking skills, and enhance their college applications with meaningful achievements.
With mentorship and structured training from Aralia’s computer science programs, students can gain the skills and confidence needed to compete successfully and turn their interest in AI into real impact.
1. Google’s 30-Day Challenge: The Future of AI
Eligibility: Anyone around the world
Google’s 30-Day Challenge invites students to explore the fundamentals of AI and innovation through a self-paced journey. Over the course of a month, participants learn key AI concepts and develop their own projects using emerging tools and resources. With a built-in leaderboard feature that adds a competitive edge, this challenge encourages creativity and experimentation in a fun, supportive environment.
Learn more: https://cloud.google.com/resources/offers/future-of-ai-build-and-inovate
Unlock Your Writing Potential: Students in Our Writing Competition Preparation Class Are More Likely to Secure Awards
2. Presidential AI Challenge
Eligibility: Anyone around the world
The Presidential AI Challenge is a nationwide initiative designed to inspire the next generation of AI leaders. Open to students across grade levels, this challenge seeks to inspire young people and educators to create AI-based innovative solutions to community challenges while encouraging AI interest and competency. Participants are encouraged to think deeply about the ethical applications of AI in real-world problems.
Timeline:
- Project Submission Due Date: January 20, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. LOCAL Time
- Announcement of State Champions: March 16, 2026
- Regional Championship Competition: March 27 – April 13, 2026, one day only, specific date depends on the region and will be announced by March 2, 2026
- Announcement of Regional Champions: April 16, 2026
- National Championships: June 2026
Explore the challenge: https://orise.orau.gov/ai-challenge/
3. World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth (WAICY)
Eligibility: Students aged 6-18 worldwide
The World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth (WAICY) is a global competition that brings together young innovators passionate about artificial intelligence. Open to individuals or teams, the competition invites students to design and present projects that demonstrate creativity, technical skill, and societal relevance. WAICY emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and provides a platform for students to showcase their work globally.
Participants can compete in several dynamic tracks, including:
- AI Showcase Track – Create a project that presents an AI solution addressing a real-world problem.
- AI Generated Art Track – Produce artworks inspired by the year’s theme using text-to-image AI tools such as DALL∙E 2, Midjourney, or Stable Diffusion.
- AI Large Language Model Track – Design prompts or systems that guide AI into adopting a specific domain of expertise using popular large language models like ChatGPT, Bard AI, and others.
- AI-Generated Video Track – Use AI tools to create a short video that communicates a meaningful message or proposes solutions to real-world challenges.
Visit the WAICY site to know more: https://www.waicy.org/
4. International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI)
Eligibility: Students 20 years old or younger
The International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) is a high-prestige global competition for high school students. It tests participants’ knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence, as they are tasked to solve challenging problems involving algorithms, machine learning, and logical reasoning. IOAI is ideal for students who want to push their technical boundaries and compete at the highest level in AI. For more information, please refer to your country website here.
Timeline:
- Standard Registration: February 1- April 30, 2026
- Late Registration: May 1 – June 1, 2026
- Competition Date: August 2-8, 2026, in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Check out the IOAI: https://ioai-official.org/
5. AI Innovator Challenge by ISTE + ASCD
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12. Students work in teams of up to three
The AI Innovator Studio empowers students to strengthen AI literacy and translate it into action that creates positive change in their communities. It also provides educators with the resources and supportive community to facilitate innovation confidently.
Program Structure
- Studio Phase: Students explore 15 lessons through classrooms, clubs, or projects with kickoff webinars, ongoing support, and educator tips.
- Challenge Phase: Teams prototype AI projects with guidance and weekly resources; final submissions are due March 13, 2026.
- Showcase Phase: Projects are judged in April, winners announced, and the top three teams present at ISTELive 26 in June.
Key Dates
- September 2025: Studio Launch
- January 9, 2026: Challenge Launch
- March 13, 2026: Submission Deadline
- April 2026: Winners Announced
June 2026: Top 3 Present at ISTELive 26
Visit their website: https://iste-ascd.org/ai-innovator
6. Stossel in the Classroom AI Challenge
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 who are currently residing in the U.S., Canada, or a U.S. military address.
Note: Students who enter the AI Challenge are ineligible to participate in the current Essay Contest.
Grounded in the belief that students are curious investigators and not just passive consumers of information, the AI Challenge from Stossel in the Classroom encourages high school students to interact with generative AI tools and challenge the AI’s output. Participants follow a four-step process:
Choose a Prompt: Select one out of three thought-provoking topics
- The Truth About Tariffs: Who Really Pays?
- The Birthright Citizenship Debate
- Time’s Up? Should Congress Have Term Limits?
Chat with an AI Bot: Use approved AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, or Poe) to ask questions, challenge answers, and explore different perspectives.
Reflect: Write a 500–750-word reflection analyzing what you learned and how AI was helpful or where it fell short.
Submit: Share your AI conversation link and reflection for evaluation.
Timeline:
- Submission Deadline: January 9, 2026, by 11:59 PM ET
- Winners Announced: February 20, 2026
7. New York Times Multimedia Contest: Growing Up With A.I
Eligibility: Students aged 13 to 19 who are currently in middle or high school, as well as all adults working in secondary/high schools (any role).
Contest Dates: September 10 – October 22, 2025
The New York Times Multimedia Contest invites teenagers and educators to explore what it’s like to think, create, teach, and learn in a time when AI is transforming the world. Further, it asks participants to reflect on how this rise will mean for the current generation in high school now.
How the participants would address the above prompts is up to them. Submissions can be in any medium, including essays, poems, comics, podcasts, videos, songs, infographics, and more. Students can explore any aspect of AI’s impact, from significant societal shifts to personal experiences. AI tools may be used, but only in accordance with official NYT guidelines.
85% of Aralia Students Place in Top Writing Competitions
Why Participate in AI Competitions?
AI competitions provide student innovators with opportunities to not just adapt to the latest technology but also critically challenge this emerging trend, thereby making a significant impact in the ever-changing world.
Build Real-World Projects
Competitions push students to take ideas from concept to execution. Students gain hands-on experience applying AI tools and techniques through different innovative projects: designing a machine learning model, creating a chatbot, developing an AI solution for social good, and more. These projects go beyond classroom exercises, allowing students to tackle real-world challenges and see the tangible results of their efforts.
Develop In-Demand Technical Skills
AI competitions expose students to cutting-edge technologies and programming tools used by people and industries today. such as Python, TensorFlow, and data analytics platforms. But instead of memorizing terms, students learn by doing: preprocessing data, training algorithms, and evaluating AI models. These skills not only build real confidence in STEM subjects but also prepare students for college programs and future careers in AI, robotics, or computer science.
Strengthen Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
Students learn how to explore different solutions to complex problems and weigh the pros and cons of each choice. Many competitions also encourage ethical reflection, like spotting bias in AI outputs or questioning whether a solution is fair and responsible. It’s the kind of thinking that sticks long after the competition ends.
Collaborate and Build Teamwork Skills
Many AI competitions are team-based, encouraging students to work together toward a common goal. Collaboration teaches not only project management, but also communication and leadership. Students learn how to share responsibilities, merge diverse ideas, and leverage each team member’s strengths to create a polished final project. These skills are essential for success in any future career.
Gain Recognition and Build a Strong Portfolio
Winning or placing in AI competitions can significantly enhance a student’s college applications and resume. Even participating demonstrates initiative and a commitment to learning, and these are qualities that schools love to see! Some competitions also offer scholarships, media features, and opportunities to present work at international conferences, giving students visibility and credibility in the AI and tech community.
Connect with a Global Community
Many AI competitions connect students from all over the world. This exposure broadens perspectives, encourages cultural exchange, and inspires collaboration with students who bring different experiences and ideas to the table. Networking also opens doors to future opportunities that you might not otherwise encounter.
Take Aralia’s Computer Science classes
Aralia’s computer science classes help you build the skills, confidence, and hands-on project experience you need to step into AI competitions with purpose. Our curriculum, developed with STEM-experienced imstructors, has helped hundreds of students strengthen their problem-solving and AI project skills. Our alumni have successfully competed in national and international competitions, resulting in award-winning submissions.
Responsible Use of AI in Academic and English Writing
This Responsible Use of AI in Academic and English Writing course is designed to teach students how to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into their academic and English writing processes responsibly, effectively, and ethically.
