Intel AI Global Impact Festival: Students innovating for a better world
Publication date: October 3, 2024
In the last few years, the online buzz around AI has largely focused on the rapid evolution of language models and art-generating models — not all positive.
But even if you’re struggling with the sheer volume of AI content every day, students behind the headlines are using AI to address pressing global issues, from sustainability to healthcare.
Intel has tapped into this potential, betting on the next generation to navigate the clutter and harness the power of AI for global good. The multinational tech giant launched the AI Global Impact Festival in 2021, and it’s already become a global movement.
This year’s festival, which runs from October 10-25, is a unique event that gives students around the world to address real-world challenges, empowering young innovators to learn, compete and celebrate the world-changing possibilities of AI.
Why the Intel AI Global Impact Festival matters
As digital transformation accelerates globally, AI skills are in high demand, but people from diverse and underrepresented groups are often left behind. The AI Global Impact Festival is a chance for students from various backgrounds, countries and communities to learn vital AI skills and showcase their innovations to a global audience.
Since 2021, the festival has grown rapidly, uniting governments, academic institutions and community partners and turning curious students into future innovators, through responsible, human-centric AI development.
The importance of responsible AI and accessibility
A key feature of the AI Global Impact Festival is its emphasis on responsible AI — ensuring that AI technologies are ethical, transparent, and accessible to all. By promoting inclusive AI innovations, Intel and its partners are bridging the gap between technology and human needs. The festival is a platform for students to showcase their technical skills, and collectively use their innovative projects to create a more equitable and inclusive society.
What to expect from Intel AI Global Impact Festival 2024
Following the success of previous years, this year will be bigger and better than ever. It will include a variety of learning, celebration, and competition opportunities for students, educators, and AI enthusiasts worldwide.
Students will be able to participate in two main competition categories:
- AI Changemakers (for two age groups: 13-18 years and 18+ years)
- AI for Accessibility (special prizes for projects focusing on accessibility solutions)
The winners, announced on October 9, will receive an impressive array of prizes, including $5,000, Intel-powered laptops, and crucial mentorship opportunities.
Intel AI Global Impact Festival 2023: key highlights
In 2023, the festival attracted over 1,000 entries from students across 27 countries. After a rigorous judging process, the top global winners were announced and showcased during Intel Innovation 2023. The festival provided a platform for student innovators to share their AI-powered projects that tackled problems such as sustainability, health, and accessibility.
One standout project from the competition was the Straighten-Up Posture Assistant, developed by Maciej Jałocha, a student from Poland who was the Global Award Winner in the AI Impact Creators Category (ages 13-18). Maciej’s innovative browser extension gently blurs the computer screen when the user slouches, reminding them to correct their posture without causing annoyance.
Maciej may be a young teenager, but he’s already helping himself and fellow coders around the world think about safer practices for long careers filled with screen time sitting at desks!
Other notable projects from the festival included:
- Using AI to help save native bees: This project, developed by three girls from Costa Rica, harnessed AI technology to protect native bee populations, which play a critical role in biodiversity and agriculture.
- AI-powered platform to empower women in STEM: Created by a student from India, this platform leverages AI to promote and support women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
How to participate in the 2024 festival
Whether you’re a student innovator, an educator teaching AI in the classroom, or simply someone interested in the future of AI, the Intel AI Global Impact Festival offers multiple ways to get involved.
Celebrate: Attendees can join the global, virtual platform to play AI-powered games, listen to talks from Intel leaders, and view AI project innovations from previous years.
Learn: Participants can complete micro-learning modules on emerging technologies and earn certificates, while also viewing best practices for AI skilling from around the world.
Compete: Students can participate in the global AI competition, submitting their own innovative AI projects for a chance to win prestigious awards.
Shaping the future with AI
The Intel AI Global Impact Festival is more than just a competition — it’s a movement that highlights the incredible potential of AI to create positive change. These student-led innovations prove that young minds can make a tangible impact on the world.
As we look ahead to the 2024 festival, the possibilities for AI-driven change are endless — and hopefully we’ll see more of this world-changing work on social media feeds!
