Best Use of AI Award

The Best Use of AI Award recognises student projects that thoughtfully and creatively apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve problems, enhance user experiences, or explore new possibilities.

Projects may be entered into this category if they include any of the following AI elements:

  • Machine Learning – systems that learn from data or improve over time
  • Computer Vision – recognising, detecting, or interpreting images or video
  • Natural Language Processing – understanding or generating human language
  • AI‑powered Tools – using existing AI services or APIs to enable new functionality
  • Generative AI – creating new content such as text, images, audio, code, or designs

Students must first enter a core award category before entering any optional categories. This ensures all entries meet the core Young ICT Explorers requirements.

Award Categories for the Best Use of AI Award

  • Junior: Years 3–6
  • Middle: Years 7–9
  • Senior: Years 10–12

What Students Will Be Assessed On

Students will be assessed on the Standard YICTE Criteria for core awards plus the following AI‑specific criteria:

Appropriate Use of AI

  • Is AI used in a way that is purposeful and relevant to the project’s goal?
  • Does the AI component meaningfully contribute to the solution rather than being added for novelty?
  • Have students selected an AI tool, model, or method that suits the problem they are addressing?

Understanding of AI Concepts (Age‑Appropriate)

  • Can students explain, at their year level, how the AI component works?
  • Do they show understanding of ideas such as training data, patterns, models, or decision‑making?
  • Are they aware of limitations, accuracy issues, or how the AI might behave unpredictably?
  • For older students: can they discuss evaluation, testing, or improvement of their AI component?

Ethical and Responsible Use

  • Have students considered issues such as bias, fairness, privacy, or safety?
  • Is there evidence that students thought about the impact of their AI system on users or the community?
  • Does the project demonstrate responsible and thoughtful use of AI tools?

Impact or Purpose

  • Does the AI component help solve a meaningful problem or create a valuable experience?
  • Is the intended impact clear and well‑explained?
  • Does the project show potential real‑world benefit or thoughtful application?

Examples of Suitable Projects

  1. Image Recognition Projects

Projects where students train or use an AI model to identify objects, animals, or patterns.

  • A model that recognises local wildlife from photos taken around the school
  • A system that identifies types of rubbish (recycling vs landfill) to support sustainability
  • A tool that detects plant health issues from leaf images

AI concepts demonstrated: training data, classification, accuracy, limitations.

  1. Chatbots and Conversational Agents

Projects that use natural language processing to answer questions or support users.

  • A study‑helper chatbot that explains maths concepts in simple language
  • A wellbeing check‑in bot that asks students how they’re feeling and suggests strategies
  • A school‑library assistant bot that recommends books based on interests

AI concepts demonstrated: language models, intent recognition, responsible use.

  1. Predictive or Recommendation Systems

Projects that use data to make predictions or personalised suggestions.

  • A timetable helper that predicts the best study times based on past habits
  • A sports performance predictor using training data from previous games
  • A personalised music or reading recommendation engine

AI concepts demonstrated: patterns, training data, evaluation, bias.

  1. Robotics with AI Decision‑Making

Robots that use AI to make choices rather than follow fixed instructions.

  • A robot that navigates a maze using a vision model instead of line‑following
  • A robot pet that responds differently based on the user’s facial expression
  • A sorting robot that uses AI to classify objects before moving them

AI concepts demonstrated: perception, decision‑making, model integration.

  1. Ethical or Responsible AI Demonstrations

Projects that explore the impact of AI on society.

  • A simulation showing how biased training data affects outcomes
  • A tool that checks whether an AI system is fair or inclusive
  • A project that visualises how personal data is used in AI systems

AI concepts demonstrated: ethics, privacy, fairness, transparency.

  1. Creative AI Projects

Projects that use generative AI in thoughtful, purposeful ways.

  • An AI‑assisted story generator where students design the rules and training examples
  • A music‑composition tool that creates melodies based on user mood
  • An art‑style transfer project that transforms photos into different artistic styles

AI concepts demonstrated: generative models, constraints, responsible use.

  1. Real‑World Problem Solvers

AI used to address a meaningful challenge.

  • A bushfire‑risk predictor using weather and environmental data
  • A tool that helps identify accessibility barriers in school buildings
  • An AI system that analyses traffic flow around the school to improve safety

AI concepts demonstrated: purposeful application, impact, model evaluation.

Standard YICTE Criteria

Creativity and Innovation

  • Does the project demonstrate original thinking?
  • What is the point of difference between this project and similar products on the market?
  • What makes this project better or more effective than comparable solutions?

Level of Difficulty

  • How challenging was the project for the students’ year level?
  • How were problems identified, solved, or overcome during development?

Quality and Completeness

  • How well does the project meet its objectives?
  • Does it function as a working product that demonstrates practical skills and an understanding of Digital Technologies/ICT?
  • Is it a fully developed solution or a prototype? (Both are welcome.)

Documentation and Presentation

  • Is the project explained clearly during the Zoom session or in the video?
  • Is the project report well‑structured and thorough?

How to Enter

Students enter the AI Award through the standard Young ICT Explorers registration process.

  1. Enter a Core Award category first

All students must submit a project in a Core Award category before they can enter any optional award categories, including the AI Award.

  1. Select the AI Award as an optional category

During the project submission process, teachers or parents can nominate the project for the AI Award if it includes an AI component or explores AI concepts.

  1. Submit the required project materials

This includes all items requested in the standard YICTE submission form, such as the written report, project description, and any supporting files or demonstrations.

  1. Ensure the project meets ethical and safety requirements

Projects must use AI responsibly. Students should avoid using real personal data, sensitive information, or live systems without explicit permission. Simulated data and safe testing environments are strongly encouraged.