AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge
5 January - 23 May 2026
ABOUT AI READY ASEAN YOUTH CHALLENGE
The AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge is a regional ideathon empowering young innovators across Southeast Asia to harness the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence for social good.
Designed to promote AI literacy, strengthen regional collaboration, and inspire real-world impact, the challenge invites youth to imagine and build practical AI-driven solutions that uplift communities and advance an inclusive, sustainable future for ASEAN.
Whether you're new to AI or already exploring its possibilities, the AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge is your platform to learn, innovate, and lead. Join us in shaping the next generation of AI-empowered public-good solutions for Southeast Asia.
About AI READY Singapore
AI Singapore is a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) programme launched by the National Research Foundation and hosted by the National University of Singapore, to anchor deep national capabilities in AI, thereby creating social and economic impacts, growing the local talent, building an AI ecosystem, and putting Singapore on the world map.
About AI READY ASEAN
AI Ready ASEAN, an initiative by the ASEAN Foundation with support from Google.org, is set to empower 5.5 million ASEAN citizens to thrive in the AI era. Running from 2024 to 2026, the programme will train 2,000 Master Trainers and engage 800,000 individuals in AI learning in the region, host regional and national policy convenings, release a comprehensive regional AI research report, and launch an e-learning platform serving as a central AI resource hub.
WHY JOIN US
Southeast Asia is rapidly adopting AI, sparking innovation across industries and transforming the region’s digital landscape. Yet, many of these advancements have not fully reached everyday communities.
By joining, you’ll have the chance to create meaningful AI-driven solutions that directly benefit the people and communities you care about.
Stand out as a local innovator, and you may even earn the opportunity to represent your country and showcase your work on the regional stage.
Create For Your Community
Identify a real-world challenge and create an AI-integrated solution that will directly impact the community of your choice.
Big Prize Pool Up For Grabs
We have a prize pool of US$20,000 to award multiple feasible solutions that bring positive impact and do public good to communities.
Get Discovered
Stand a chance to win a fully paid trip to Singapore to showcase your solution in front of key executives at the Regional Grand Finals.
THE CHALLENGE
Propose a practical and sustainable AI-integrated solution that delivers clear public good and addresses a real-world challenge faced by local or regional Southeast Asian communities, with the aim of achieving one or more of Google.org’s key focus areas:
Knowledge, Skills and Learning
Expanding access to knowledge and skills people need to thrive
Scientific Progress
Accelerating scientific discovery to address society’s biggest challenges
Stronger Communities
Enabling a safer digital world while strengthening communities in the face of crises
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Please note that the AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge has a few eligibility criteria that you must fulfil before registering.
You must be a country resident within the following ASEAN countries:
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam
You must be between 18 and 35 years old and currently enrolled in an educational institution
You may participate as an individual or a team of no more than 3 people
All members in a team must be from the same country of residence, with at least 1 member being citizen of the country that your team is representing
HOW TO GET STARTED
Identify a Real-World Issue
Start by identifying a real-world issue that affects a specific local or regional Southeast Asian community.
The issue you identify should align with at least one or more of Google.org’s focus areas:
● 📚 Knowledge, Skills & Learning: Expanding access to knowledge and skills people need to thrive
● 🔬 Scientific Progress: Accelerating scientific discovery to address society’s biggest challenges
● 🤝 Stronger Communities: Enabling a safer digital world while strengthening communities in the face of crises
Create an AI-integrated Solution
Explore how AI can be used responsibly to solve the issue that you have identified in Step 1.
Your proposed solution should create meaningful and measurable impact, while contributing to public good, both in the short and long term.
It should aim to achieve one or more of Google.org’s focus areas: Knowledge, Skills & Learning, Scientific Progress, and Stronger Communities.
Grow Your Impact
To ensure your solution drives lasting impact, plan how you will raise AI awareness among at least 1,000 community members by educating, engaging, or empowering them to adopt AI in ways that support or complement your solution
PRIZES FOR WINNERS
Regional Grand Finals Winners
National Winners For Each Country
People’s Choice Awards
Most popular video submission per country
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Submission Deadline: 24 March 2026, 11:59 PM GMT+8
Each team should appoint one member as the Team Representative, who will be responsible for submitting the following on the Submission Portal.
A PDF WRITTEN PROPOSAL IN ENGLISH (MAX. 5 PAGES) CONTAINING:
- Target audience/beneficiaries: Identify who you aim to support with your proposed AI-integrated solution.
- Problem statement: Clearly define the real-world challenge you are trying to address within your local community or in a larger Southeast Asian context. Identify which of Google.org’s focus areas you are addressing, explain the importance of the issue, and describe how your target audience is currently impacted.
- AI-based solution: Explain how AI technologies will be used in your solution, and why AI is a suitable, innovative, and responsible approach.
- Feasibility: Show how your solution can realistically be implemented (consider resources, partners, timeline, etc.).
- Scalability & impact: Describe how your solution can grow beyond initial implementation, and the potential positive outcomes at the community, national, or regional level.
- Outreach plan: Outline how you will raise AI awareness among at least 1,000 community members, to educate and encourage them to better understand AI and adopt AI in ways that support or complement your solution.
Tip: Use diagrams, charts, wireframes or examples where helpful. These are optional, but highly encouraged.
A 3-MIN PITCH VIDEO IN ENGLISH COVERING:
*You may add subtitles in your native language to help the public understand your video content.
Your video should summarise your idea in a clear and engaging way. It must include:
- The real-world challenge you are addressing
- Your target audience / beneficiaries
- A concise explanation of your AI-based solution
- Wireframes (optional, but highly encouraged)
- Prototype demonstrations (strongly encouraged)
- Explain the specific benefits your solution will bring, and how you will measure these results for your target audience
- Why your solution is innovative, inspiring, and impactful
Tip: Keep your message simple. Use visuals, storytelling elements, and real-world examples so that even audiences with limited AI knowledge can understand and be convinced by your solution.
JUDGING CRITERIA
| Criteria | What do we assess? | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| AI-INTEGRATED SOLUTION | ||
| Problem Definition | Clarity and comprehensiveness of the issue addressed, target audience, and scope of proposed solution | 10% |
| Relevancy & Impact | Relevance of the proposed solution and its potential benefits for the identified target audience | 10% |
| AI Application | Sound and responsible use of AI to solve the identified problem | 15% |
| Viability | Feasibility and potential to scale or implement the solution effectively | 10% |
| Innovation | Creativity and originality of the solution | 10% |
| Sustainability | Ability to maintain and grow the solution over time | 10% |
| EXTENDING SOLUTION IMPACT THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH | ||
| Practicality | How realistic and easy it is to implement your proposed awareness outreach plan | 10% |
| Effectiveness | Effectiveness of your proposed outreach plan to engage at least 1,000 community members for awareness raising on AI | 5% |
| Public Engagement | Community votes on the official challenge website | 20% |
KEY PROGRAMME DATES
| Date | Programme Activity |
|---|---|
| 5 January 2026 | Registration Begins |
| 27 February 2026 | Registration Deadline |
| 2 March 2026 | Opening Ceremony (Virtual) |
| 3 – 23 March 2026 | Workshop for Participants |
| 24 March 2026 | Submission Deadline |
| 25 March – 6 April 2026 | Judging Period |
| 13 April 2026 | National Finalists Reveal |
| 13 – 20 April 2026 | Public Voting Period |
| 22 – 27 April 2026 | National Winners Announcement |
| End April – Mid May 2026 | Workshops & Consultations for Regional Grand Finalists |
| Week of 18 – 24 May 2026 | Regional Grand Finals, Award Ceremony and Showcase in Singapore |
WHAT TO PREPARE FOR THE REGIONAL GRAND FINALS
All country winners will be invited to attend the Regional Grand Finals taking place in Singapore in May 2026, to present their winning solution to a panel of judges at their respective country booth.
As part of the preparation leading up to the Regional Grand Finals, each country winner will be paired with an advisor to refine the showcase materials and presentation content. Each team will need to prepare the following for their showcase:
A 10 to 15-minute poster presentation; team can determine the format and size of the poster
A wireframe for better visual representation of your solution
5-minute Q&A session with the judging panel
Small items, flags, artworks, symbols, or visuals to add an iconic touch of your country at your booth
IMPORTANT DATES FOR NATIONAL WINNERS
WEEK OF 18 - 24 MAY 2026
Regional Grand Finals Presentation, Award Ceremony and Solution Showcase will take place in Singapore
22 & 23 MAY 2026
Solution Showcase at Country Booth at the AI Student Developer Conference 2026
KICKSTART YOUR AI LEARNING JOURNEY
AI isn’t just for experts. It’s a tool that shapes our daily life and communities, and learning about it starts right here.
Explore the trusted resources below to gain the confidence and knowledge you need to understand AI, support responsible adoption, and engage meaningfully with it in your daily life.
AI Singapore
Gain an introduction to AI through this free online Literacy in AI course, where you will learn about common machine learning terms and models, understand the basic workings of deep learning, and explore the topics of ethics in AI.
Hour Of AI
A global initiative designed to help students and educators take their first step into understanding and creating with AI with fun and interactive activities and resources.
AI Class ASEAN
A free e-learning portal by the ASEAN Foundation, where you can gain a basic understanding of AI fundamentals, applications of AI in daily life, and the responsible use of AI.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
About the AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge
How can I participate in the challenge?
You must be between 18 and 35 years old and be a student at any existing education institution to participate. If you are eligible, you may register here.
What do I need to create for this challenge?
You will need to submit a proposal that contains an AI-based solution to bring positive impact to communities and an outreach plan to raise awareness on AI within the community.
Can I participate solo, or must I form a team?
You may participate in the challenge solo or form a team of a maximum of 3 people.
What is the registration period?
Registration starts on 5 January 2026 and will end on 27 February 2026. More information on program dates can be found here.
How long do I have to create my solution?
You may start working on your solution from 2 March 2026 until 24 March 2026.
What do I need to submit by the deadline?
You will need to submit a proposal in English and a 3-minute pitch video. More information on submission can be found here.
What should I expect as the national winner?
Apart from cash prizes, you will enjoy paid flights and accommodation for a trip to Singapore, to represent your country and showcase your winning solution at the Regional Grand Finals.
Public Voting
What is this public voting about?
Members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite AI-integrated solution to be showcased at the Regional Grand Finals in Singapore in May 2026.
When is the voting period?
Voting period starts on 13 April 2026, 12:00 PM GMT +8 and will close on 20 April 2026, 11:59 PM GMT +8.
Can I vote more than once?
All members of the public are only allowed one vote to support the team that proposes the best solution.
Are the country winners determined solely by public voting?
The votes collected carry a 20% weight in our selection of the winning teams. The other 80% will be assessed by a panel of judges using a strict set of judging criteria.
📩 Have a question? Reach out to us at
info@president.ac.id