Launch AI competition for young people

The competition is organized under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Science and Technology. AI Young Guru aims to encourage students to learn and apply AI methodically, safely and effectively, associated with practical problems in learning and life.

AI Young Guru 2026 is deployed nationwide, taking place from January to April 2026. Contestants can participate individually or in groups. Each team has no more than three members and each individual can only register one team.

The prize structure includes cash, in-kind rewards, certificates and scholarships from FPT University. Of which, the First prize is worth 100 million VND, the Second prize is 50 million VND and the Third prize is 30 million VND. In addition, the organizing committee awarded 4 Consolation prizes, each worth 15 million VND and 22 Promising prizes, each worth 5 million VND.

According to the organizers, the competition aims to help students apply AI to solve specific problems in study, work and daily life. Thereby, students are trained in innovative thinking, improve their ability to use digital technology and gradually orient their future careers.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong hoped that candidates would participate in the contest with the spirit of learning, creativity and honesty, considering AI as a tool to support knowledge discovery and personal capacity formation.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong assessed that AI Young Guru is not only a movement activity in schools, but also a specific step to bring AI from theoretical ideas and concepts into products that can be applied in everyday life.

Although AI is developing rapidly, humans are still the central and irreplaceable factor. The current challenge lies not in the speed of technology development, but in forming a young generation capable of proactively researching, developing and applying AI.

Leaders of the Ministry of Science and Technology believe that technology is only truly meaningful when it contributes to solving specific life problems. Vietnam currently has many problems in fields such as education, health care, agriculture, rural areas and the environment that need appropriate technology solutions.

Sharing with the contestants, Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong commented, “a good product is not necessarily a complicated product, but a product with effective applications in life.” He hopes that the competing teams will start from small, close problems, stemming from their own experiences in family, school and community.

Besides technical capacity, he wants the young generation to soon form the mindset of using AI safely and responsibly. “You need to be fully aware that the data for AI must be correct – enough – clean – live, understand the capabilities and limitations of AI models, and carefully consider the social impacts of the product,” he emphasized.

The Deputy Minister also asked the organizing committee to connect excellent products and projects with agencies, organizations and businesses to put the contest results into practice. “Those who know how to master AI will rise and go ahead,” he said, and expressed his hope that AI Young Guru will contribute to helping the young generation of Vietnam gradually grasp technology and move forward to create a future for themselves.