السعوديون يتربعون على قمة WAICY للذكاء الاصطناعي للعام الثالث على التوالي

The World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth (WAICY) has been a pioneering platform for redefining artificial intelligence education since its launch in 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, within the campus of Carnegie Mellon University. The establishment of this competition stemmed from an ambitious vision that believes in the importance of learning artificial intelligence and empowering promising youth to maximize the benefits of its innovative technologies in a way that meets the rapid development of these advanced technologies.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has continued to solidify its global leadership in the World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth (WAICY), having achieved first place globally for three consecutive years. In the 2023 edition, it garnered a record number of medals from among 18,000 students from 40 countries, and then continued its excellence in 2024 by winning 22 medals, the highest total among 129 participating countries, culminating in its crowning in 2025 with first place globally after receiving 26 awards through innovative projects that competed among thousands of international entries. This achievement reflects the growing capabilities of national talents in the field of artificial intelligence and supports the national system for empowering young talents.

This competition is part of an integrated international system that brings together students with teachers, researchers, and innovators, focusing on developing intelligent solutions centered around human values. It has received support from the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

The competition included four main competitive tracks: showcasing artificial intelligence applications to address real-world problems, AI-generated art, applications of large language models, and AI-generated video, reflecting the broad horizons of creativity and innovation available to participants from various educational and cultural backgrounds.

The rapid growth of the competition embodies its rising global status, as the number of participants increased from over 200 students from five countries in 2018 to more than 132,000 students representing 103 countries in the 2025 edition, marking WAICY's widest international participation in its history. During this time, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emerged as one of the most successful national experiences in the competition, having officially joined WAICY in 2022.

The distinction of WAICY is not limited to the broad scope of participation; it is also evident in its profound impact extending beyond the competition. Many student projects have transformed into the nucleus of startups, some of which have received external funding, while several competition graduates have enrolled in prestigious global universities such as MIT, Stanford, and Harvard. An increasing number of former participants are returning to the competition as mentors and judges.

At a time when global attention is focused on large language models, the WAICY competition has continued to emphasize the foundational principles of artificial intelligence, guided by the "Five Big Ideas of AI," relying on comprehensive evaluation criteria that extend beyond technical aspects to include creativity in preparing a conscious and responsible generation capable of contributing to shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

As the competition enters its ninth year, the focus is renewed on expanding equitable access to artificial intelligence education, enhancing regional and international partnerships, and solidifying youth readiness worldwide, in a journey where knowledge intersects with values, and innovation with responsibility, showcasing the Kingdom's model as a leading national experience in empowering individuals and shaping the future.

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has shown early interest in adopting this competition and supporting its participants in various ways, as part of its efforts to develop the capabilities of the emerging generation in learning and using artificial intelligence technologies responsibly and effectively, aiming to empower them to utilize AI in addressing real-world challenges, encourage them to develop innovative projects with tangible impact, and enhance their awareness of the importance of artificial intelligence and its growing influence in various fields of life, alongside motivating students to engage in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The Kingdom achieved a remarkable accomplishment in the WAICY 2025 edition by securing first place globally with 26 awards, surpassing the United States, which came in second, and Indonesia in third place. This result reflects a sustainable national investment in building capacities, enhancing AI literacy, and empowering youth with the tools of the future.