The United States Artificial Intelligence (USAII®) has launched AI NextGen Challenge 2026, a national-level initiative especially for Grade 9-12 students, graduates, and undergraduates to empower them with world-class AI education and certification. It will also offer them a national-level platform to showcase their innovation, AI skills, and future readiness. This program brings together AI learning, scholarships, and a large-scale AI hackathon in one of the country’s largest and most impactful AI talent development programs.

The first step of this program is an online AI Scholarship Test, where the top 10% of students will earn a 100% scholarship on their respective AI certification from USAII®, such as CAIP™, CAIPa™, and CAIE™. These certifications are an excellent way to build a solid foundation in various concepts like machine learning, deep learning, robotics, generative AI, etc., essential to start a career in the AI domain. All others who participate in the AI Scholarship Test can also avail themselves of a discount of 25% on their AI certification programs.

Finally, the program ends with a national-level AI NextGen National Hackathon 2026 to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, where the top 125 students organized in 25 teams will compete to solve real-world problems using AI. This Hackathon has $100,000 cash prize for winners and will also provide opportunities to students to network with other professionals, industry leaders, earn recognition across industries, and start their AI career confidently. Want more details? Check out AI NextGen Challenge 2026 here.