The AI NextGen Challenge 2026, launched by the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII®), is a national initiative designed to empower students across America with world-class AI education, industry-recognized certifications, and a platform to showcase innovation.

This program is designed for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students and brings together AI learning, scholarships, and a large-scale national hackathon in one of the country’s most impactful AI talent development programs.

Students begin their journey through an online AI Scholarship Test, where the top 10% earn 100% scholarships for USAII®’s prestigious AI certification programs, such as CAIP™, CAIPa™, and CAIE™. These programs cover AI fundamentals, machine learning, deep learning, robotics, generative AI, LLMs, MLOps, and real-world AI applications. All other students can also participate with exclusive discounted access, ensuring inclusivity and opportunity for all.

The highlight of the initiative is the AI NextGen National Hackathon 2026, to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, where the nation’s top 125 student innovators—organized into 25 teams—will compete to solve real-world problems using AI. With $100,000 in total cash prizes, national recognition, and networking with industry leaders, the event serves as a launchpad for America’s future AI workforce.

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.