Saudi Youth Lead Global WAICY Victory For A Third Consecutive Year

Saudi Arabia has strengthened its position in the World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth, taking first place for three years in a row. In the 2025 edition, Saudi youth won 26 awards for innovative projects, outperforming thousands of entries worldwide, and finishing ahead of the United States in second place and Indonesia in third.

The 2025 achievement capped a strong run that started earlier. In 2023, Saudi participants recorded their highest medal tally, competing with 18,000 students from 40 countries. The following year, in 2024, the Kingdom secured 22 medals, the largest total among 129 participating countries, confirming growing strength in artificial intelligence competitions.

Launched in 2017 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth has grown into a major platform for teaching artificial intelligence. The competition focuses on empowering young people to use AI responsibly and creatively, supporting projects that respond to fast changes in the technology and encourage real-world problem solving.

WAICY is designed as part of a wider international ecosystem that connects students, teachers, researchers, and innovators. Participants work on AI-driven solutions that respect human values and aim for social and economic benefit. This structure encourages collaboration across borders and supports knowledge exchange in artificial intelligence education and youth innovation.

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority recognised the importance of the World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth at an early stage. SDAIA integrated WAICY into national programmes to build skills in artificial intelligence. Support provided by SDAIA includes preparing participants, encouraging responsible use of AI tools, and backing creative ideas that address real challenges in daily life and different industries.

SDAIA’s initiatives linked to WAICY also aim to increase awareness of artificial intelligence across society. The programmes highlight how AI is influencing many sectors, including education, health, transport, and business. Another key goal is to encourage students to choose science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, strengthening the future talent pipeline in the Kingdom.

Saudi performance at the World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth reflects an integrated national approach to youth development. The results show how investment in human capital, AI literacy, and digital skills is helping prepare future generations. By consistently excelling in WAICY, Saudi Arabia demonstrates that national talent is gaining the abilities needed to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

With inputs from SPA