2026–2027 Inaugural Council

IAI²O 2026 Youth Council

Learn AI · Explore AI · Think About AI · Connect Through AI · Lead Through AI

Initiated by students from the AI Innovation Olympiad, the Youth Council is an international student leadership community where young people connect across cultures, exchange ideas, and shape how their generation engages with AI and its future.

Applications for the 2026–2027 Youth Council are closed. Thank you for your interest.

Why the Youth Council?

From competition connections to a global student community

IAI²O brings together students whose paths into AI include coding, research, science, business, entrepreneurship, robotics, design, and curiosity. The Youth Council helps those connections continue beyond the competition.

Members are more than participants. They become voices, connectors, initiators, and co-builders of an international youth AI community.

Questions We Will Explore

  • How are young people learning and using AI?
  • How is AI changing education, research, innovation, and society?
  • How should young people use AI responsibly?
  • What kind of future do we want for humans and AI?
  • What can students from different countries create together?

AI is the shared language that connects this community.

Youth Council Opportunities

As a Youth Council Member, You Will Have Opportunities To:

01

Connect Globally

Meet students from different schools, cities, and countries who share your interest in AI and innovation.

02

Share Your AI Journey

Exchange stories about the projects, research, competitions, and turning points that shaped your experience.

03

Represent Youth Perspectives

Discuss how AI is changing the way young people learn, create, communicate, and imagine the future.

04

Create Together

Propose ideas and collaborate across countries on student-led projects and activities.

05

Explore the AI World

Discover AI across research, engineering, entrepreneurship, education, innovation, and society.

06

Grow as a Leader

Build teamwork, communication, project planning, public speaking, and community-building skills.

Help Build the Inaugural Council

The 2026–2027 term is the first year of the IAI²O Youth Council. Inaugural members will help define the community rather than simply join an established organization.

The Organizing Committee will provide the platform, resources, and support. Many of the Council’s most important ideas will come from students themselves.

Inaugural members will help shape:

CommunityWhat kind of international student community the Council should become
IdeasWhat young people should explore together in the AI era
ProjectsWhat student-led activities and collaborations should be created
LeadershipWhat structures will best support a global youth community
2026 Eligibility

Curious students with different strengths

Applications were primarily open to high school students. We especially welcomed 2026 IAI²O participants from AI Innovation, AI for Science, and AI for Business.

Students planning to participate in future IAI²O programs were also welcome. Applicants did not need to be AI experts.

Selection considered curiosity, experience, perspective, collaboration, responsibility, and what applicants hoped to contribute—not only grades, awards, or technical ability.

Relevant interests included:

AI & TechnologyResearchInnovation & EntrepreneurshipRobotics & STEMEducationMedia & WritingDesignPublic SpeakingEvent OrganizationSocial ImpactCommunity Building

A strong international community needs researchers, builders, communicators, organizers, creators, and thoughtful listeners.

2026 Application Process

The Three Application Components

STEP 01

Online Application

Applicants shared their school, IAI²O participation, interests, and reasons for wanting to join the Council.

STEP 02

Resume

Applicants highlighted relevant projects, research, competitions, leadership, community work, media, writing, or design.

PDF · Maximum 2 pages

STEP 03

Youth Leadership Talk

Applicants shared their AI perspectives, learning journeys, and hopes for the Youth Council in person at the 2026 IAI²O Finals, September 25–27, 2026.

2 minutes · In person · No slides required

From Competitors to Community Builders

The Inaugural IAI²O Youth Council

From competitors to community builders
From learning AI to sharing your journey
From using AI to thinking about its future
From having ideas to building across countries

Thank you to everyone who applied to help build a global community for young people exploring AI and its future.

2026–2027 applications are closed.