National AI competition in Iran attracts 33,000 students

The National Artificial Intelligence Competition concluded this week with the participation of 33,000 students from across Iran, making it the country’s largest student contest in the field of AI.

The event, organized by Junioura with support from the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, offered students a chance to engage with artificial intelligence through practical challenges.

Taha Ezzati, CEO of Junioura, said during the closing ceremony that the high number of participants surpassed that of several well-known academic competitions, underlining the growing importance of AI among students.

The competition was held online on an open platform, allowing even those without prior specialized training to take part.
Participants were introduced to topics such as data processing, AI-based prediction, programming, and interaction with chatbots.

A total of 500 million tomans (about 55,000 dollars) in prizes were awarded, with students competing at both primary and secondary levels.

Gold, silver, and bronze medals were distributed, while top winners also received prizes including game consoles, tablets, and smartphones.

Ezzati emphasized that the initiative marked an important step in promoting AI literacy among the younger generation and expressed hope for broader participation in future editions.