Intel revealed the winners of the global grand prize at its third-annual AI Global Impact Festival today. The festival brings together future developers and educators who are using artificial intelligence (AI) to solve real-world challenges with the help of policymakers and academic leaders. Students from 26 countries competed in this year’s festival, “Enriching Lives with AI Innovation.” The Intel event programme emphasised digital preparation for all kids as well as AI advancements that promote inclusiveness, accessibility, and responsible impact.
“I am constantly amazed by the innovative young technologists who understand the potential of AI to be a force for good. I am excited to celebrate this year’s innovative winners. The success of the technology of tomorrow relies on them, as they embody the Intel purpose to improve the life of every person on the planet.”
–Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO
Why It’s Important: Artificial intelligence has the potential to open up vast new opportunities and improve the lives of everyone on the globe. It can also enable people with disabilities live independently and fully engage in all parts of life. This year, Intel announced a new prize for projects focused on AI innovation for accessibility, in line with Intel’s mission of making technology fully inclusive. The festival platform’s accessibility features closed captioning, screen readers for persons with visual disabilities, and translation into more than 120 languages.
Although AI technology has the ability to effect beneficial change, there are also ethical concerns related with its advancement. Intel is committed to responsible AI technology advancement. To prevent AI misuse, the organisation employs a complete responsible AI methodology.
Students’ creations were graded on how well they relate to and address potential hazards, and the winning projects were subjected to an ethics audit by Intel’s Responsible AI team, which was inspired by the procedure used for every enterprise AI project. The festival platform this year also included a new, self-paced lesson on Responsible AI skills, for which all participants received a certificate.
Participants competed for more than $500,000 in cash prizes, certificates, Intel computers, and mentorship opportunities during the global tournament. The following students were designated AI Impact Creator Global Award winners:
For the 13- to 17-year-old age group:
- Eye tracking for communication in ALS patients (Brazil), Laura Jeronimo, Pedro Costa, and Raissa Daloia developed a low-cost communication device that uses eye movements to choose characters presented on a screen, allowing individuals with limited motor capacity to speak.
- AI-powered platform to help women succeed in STEM (India), Yash Yadav: An AI-powered learning platform aimed at empowering female students to overcome the STEM gender gap and create a passion for these disciplines.
- Melody of Fingers (China), Shiyu Chu, Tianyi Liu, and Jingyan Li: A sign language learning app that captures users’ motion, tests their level of knowledge, and provides real-time feedback.
For the 18-year-old+ age group:
- StraightenUp-Posture Assistant (Poland), Maciej Jalocha: A browser extension that helps users maintain a healthy posture while being in front of a computer by gently blurring the viewport when it detects the user has slouched.
- Utilizing AI to Help Native Bees (Costa Rica), Nicolle Daniela Gamboa Mena, Melanie Espinoza Hernández, Mariana Acuna Cordero: A set of algorithms and hardware that relies on computer vision techniques to easily detect unknown species or those that are at risk from an altered ecosystem.
- Rescue AI-Smart City Disaster Digital Twin (Malaysia), Joo Kiat, Cajun Ka Joon Tai, Rohit Thomas: A virtual replica in which operators can gain a comprehensive overview of a city’s disaster management system, from data collection to response, to save countless lives, minimize societal losses and reduce plastic waste.
For the accessibility award:
- AI-Powered Robotic Service Animal (United States), Kevin Vo, Larry Le, and Ryan Huynh: A robotic service dog that employs artificial intelligence to assist visually impaired users in navigating various surroundings, giving an option to individuals who cannot afford a service dog.
- Way Back Home (Singapore), Meiyu Huang: A solution that uses cutting-edge technology like augmented reality, indoor positioning systems, and voice-activated assistants to help people with dementia navigate their surroundings more confidently and autonomously.
- Teerapat Sardsud, Roryon Wannapraserd, Phachara Phuansup, BRINL – Braille Interactive Learning (Thailand): A solution that uses AI to improve Braille learning for visually impaired individuals, encouraging Braille literacy, and empowering users with the ability to access information.