InnovateAI: The Challenge
Inspiring Young Minds to Build Ethical AI Solutions for a Better World
InnovateAI is a one-of-a-kind AI Challenge created for students in 6th through 12th grades. This program introduces learners to the world of artificial intelligence and real-world innovation.
Train and test their own AI models
Go through AI-driven challenges
Ethical reasoning and fairness in technology
Develop critical thinking and design skills
InnovateAI Levels
InnovateAI has an Impact Challenge with three progressive learning levels where each builds on the last, strengthening student knowledge, creativity, and ethical tech skills.
Level One - Foundation: Learn & Create, where beginning students gain essential AI literacy, explore fairness and empathy, and create their project idea.
Level Two - Design Mastery: Deepen the Experience, where returning students turn their ideas into working projects. Students apply design thinking to build, refine, and expand their solutions with real AI models, user-centered features, and improved storytelling.
Level Three - Engineer & Test: Think Like a Builder, where advanced students focus on scalability, real-world application, and advanced design. Students can repeat this stage as often as they like, each time growing in technical ability and leadership.
Student Learning Experience
The first generative AI companion tool for accessible, safe, and responsible use of AI. Students:
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Play in a safe AI sandbox
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Access Cross-Curricular Lessons & Prompt Engineering
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Remix AI Projects
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Ethics Centered Reflection
The Challenge Project - Each InnovateAI student completes an AI Innovation Project that grows with every cohort. They begin by creating an idea, then build and improve it over time using real AI tools, design thinking, and ethical problem solving.
Why It Matters
The current education system is not equipped to teach AI effectively. Most programs are either too basic, overly technical, or fail to address the real-world implications of artificial intelligence.
IIF is providing age-appropriate, values-based AI education that meets students where they are. InnovateAI is designed to build confidence, inspire creativity, and foster a new generation of responsible technology leaders.
This initiative is not just about technology. It is about purpose, ethics, and the power to improve lives through innovation.
Program Details & FAQs
As part of every InnovateAI, students work on an AI Innovation Project that grows with them over time. In the Foundation: Learn & Create level, students explore the basics of AI, fairness, and empathy while developing an original idea for how AI can solve a real-world problem. In their second year: Design Mastery: Deepen the Experience, returning students take their idea further by building a working prototype using AI tools, design thinking strategies, and user-centered features.
Should students continue after their 2nd year they enter Engineer & Test: Think Like a Builder, where students either improve their original project or launch a new one based on everything they have learned. This phase allows them to focus on scalability, real-world testing, and advanced design.
Each time students participate in a cohort, they deepen their technical skills, creativity, and leadership as future builders of ethical AI solutions.
Projects are judged using a transparent rubric across five key categories:-
Technical Use
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Design Thinking Application
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AI Integration
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Communication & Creativity
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Effort & Completion
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The Impact Challenge is a 100% virtual program. Students from anywhere in the world can participate as long as they have internet access and a device such as a laptop or tablet.
The InnovateAI is designed for students in grades 3rd through 12th who are enrolled in InnovateYouth curious about design thinking, and creating solutions that make a difference in the world.
No prior technology experience is required.
Live sessions are optional but we encourage attendance / watching the playback as they serve as enrichment. They include guest speakers, project reviews, and Q&A.
All sessions are recorded so students can watch them later if they cannot attend live.
All InnovateYouth students are given learning access to our CodeCombat Classing learning and AI environments to complete their project and level up their technology skills.
Although students work independently, they are supported through game-based learning pathways, live expert sessions, virtual tutoring, and optional mentorship. Returning students advance through levels designed to meet them where they are.
Yes, the Foundation level is built specifically for beginners and provides step-by-step guidance in both AI concepts and digital tools.
