Artificial Intelligence probably isn't on the high school curriculum, but that's not stopping a group of innovators in Atlanta from asking the youth their thoughts on the matter.
Sandbox ATL, a collaboration platform for Tech Square, recently launched the Day One Georgia Challenge, a contest that asks high school students across the state to join the conversation on artificial intelligence for a chance to win grants and connect with technology movers and shakers in the city.
Scott Henderson, co-owner of Sandbox ATL and the facilitator of the Garage, an event and co-working space in Tech Square, said the state has done great work showcasing the talent of college students in the tech world. However, he and his partners felt there wasn't a contest or challenge that put high school innovation on display.
"It’s a chance for us to really showcase the depth of the high school talent that’s growing in Georgia and we’ve set it up to really pose a big question, a big technology related question to be able to see which high schools across the state have the students who can think at that level and all throughout their creative solutions to it," he said.
In addition to challenging younger minds, the challenge will create an opportunity for students from rural and urban areas to connect with the existing tech community and ecosystem in Atlanta, Henderson said.
"So in simple terms, what we’re looking to do is service really innovative high school students and then connect them to really innovative tech companies that call Georgia home," he said.
The challenge, modeled after Amazon's own PRFAQ internal decision-making methodology, asks high schoolers to form a team, propose how artificial intelligence in 2030 will fundamentally alter one of three societal needs: education, health or sustainability and submit their ideas by April 5.
Ten teams will be selected as finalists after public, peer and expert voting. Finalists will gather at a daylong innovation summit at Tech Square on May 5, where more than $7,500 in grants will be awarded.
When asked why the focus on artificial intelligence, Henderson said the emerging technology is already shaping our lives, faster than most people realize.
"Because it’s going to have such a profound impact on our society, we wanted to use that as a focus area for these high schoolers this year to start to realizing how can it be used to focus on societal needs that we’ve highlighted," he said. "Just as much as electricity changed the entire South, AI is going to change the entire South and rural areas, as well as urban areas, so let’s start getting people thinking about it."
While the search for smart, young minds continues, Henderson said the challenge is also looking for community partners who can offer immediate opportunities, such as summer camps, internships and programs, to get kids involved.
"So we’re looking for those type of people, service community partners, to not only help plug these smart minds into great programs to help them grow right here in Georgia, we’re also looking for those community partners to help us promote the program, too," he said.
To learn more about the Day One Georgia Challenge, create a team and submit a proposal, log on to DayOneGeorgia.com.
