AI for a Better World Challenge

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How can artificial intelligence improve your communities and the broader world? AI for a Better World Closed Submissions are closed Applications Open February 17, 2026 9:00am EST Solution Deadline March 20, 2026 12:00pm EDT Winners Notified April 24, 2026 America's Youth AI Festival July 17, 2026 - July 19, 2026 Challenge Overview AI For A Better World is a national initiative that invites students in grades 6-12 to explore how artificial intelligence can improve their communities and the broader world. This project challenges students to identify real problems they see or experience and to consider how AI can empower them to propose credible, meaningful solutions. Applications will be submitted through the MIT Solve platform; the application will open for submissions on February 17, 2026. Selected student teams will be invited to present their solutions to a panel of experts at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts in July 2026 as part of the national celebration of youth innovation. Note: Solutions should be designed by student teams, but must be submitted by an adult representative. As the adult representative for your team, please select ‘Submit as an Individual’ when you start the application! Dimensions Taking action to combat climate change and its impacts (Climate) Improving financial and economic opportunities for all (Economic Prosperity) Improving healthcare access and health outcomes; and reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities (Health) Improving learning opportunities and outcomes for learners across their lifetimes, from early childhood on (Learning) Other: Addressing an unmet social, environmental, or economic need not covered in the four dimensions above. Dimension Examples Learning includes, but is not limited to, solutions that are: Supporting access to high quality educational opportunities, including individuals in rural, remote or displaced communities Preparing underserved people to learn skills they need for the workforce Enabling teachers and educators to support student and/or adult learning Climate includes, but is not limited to, solutions that are: Reducing carbon emissions from organizations and communities, particularly through clean energy Helping communities adapt and build resilience to impacts of climate change such as extreme weather Creating goods that are renewable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable Promoting access to sustainable and resilient food and water sources for rural and/or urban communities Health includes, but is not limited to, solutions that are: Promoting physical and mental health Supporting access to effective and affordable healthcare in urban or rural communities Enabling the prevention, detection and management of illness, emerging pandemics and health security threats Promoting health equity; reducing and ultimately eliminating disparities in health Economic Prosperity includes, but is not limited to, solutions that are: Addressing the gaps in technological and digital literacy necessary to participate in a changing job market Creating pathways to upskill, reskill, and retrain workers, as well as connect them to the demands of employers Supporting access to platforms that support temporary, informal and freelance workers, helping provide stability, safety nets, and security Ensuring the inclusion and value of women, low-income and underserved communities in the creation of new technologies, jobs, or entire industries Provide tools and opportunities for equitable access to jobs, credit, and generational wealth creation for marginalized communities Program Timeline Program Details & Materials Released: November 17, 2025 Submission Portal Opens: February 17, 2026 Submissions Due: March 20, 2026 Winners Notified: by April 24, 2026 America’s Youth AI Festival: July 17-19, 2026