Showcase Your Vision. Shape the Future.
Calling all UNO students! Our first annual AI Student Innovation Competition takes place during our OMAxAI event on October 7.
This competition is designed to celebrate and highlight how the next generation envisions using artificial intelligence in their careers. We’re looking for bold ideas that demonstrate how AI tools and technologies will revolutionize your chosen field.
Whether you’re in engineering, business, art, science, education, or any other discipline — if you have an idea for using artificial intelligence to make a real impact in your field, we want to see it!
Showcase how artificial intelligence will transform your career path, impress Omaha metro employers, and compete to be the grand prize winner. What matters is your vision for how AI can transform your future profession.
- Who: Open to UNO students of any academic standing, across all departments. You may enter as an individual or form teams of up to 4 members.
- What: Prepare a 5 to 7-minute demonstration showing how you would apply AI and the benefits it brings in your field
- When: October 7, from 3 – 4 P.M.
- Where: OMAxAI event at Kaneko
- Prize: $1,000 scholarship for 1st place, $600 scholarship for 2nd place, and $400 scholarship for 3rd
Students will have until September 19 to submit their proposal.
Who Can Enter?
Any Student
Any UNO student of any academic standing is welcome to submit a proposal. We strongly encourage applications from students in all academic tracks.
Team Participation
Students may enter individually or form teams of up to four members. Teams can be interdisciplinary or include students from different schools and education levels, encouraging diverse perspectives (teams will split the scholarship if chosen to win).
How to Enter
Prepare Your Proposal
Craft a compelling proposal (maximum 750 words) that describes your future career path, how you envision using AI to innovate within it, and how you believe it can be revolutionary in your field. Focus on practical applications and potential impact.
Supporting Materials
Enhance your submission with prototypes, mockups, storyboards, or demo videos that illustrate your concept. Clarity of vision and demonstrating AI's benefit in the different fields is top priority.
Submit by September 19
Complete the online application form, upload your materials, and submit before the deadline. A panel of experts will review submissions, and the five best proposals will present to a panel of judges on October 7 during the OMAxAI event.
Process Overview
- Prepare Your Proposal: Craft a compelling proposal (max 750 words) that describes your future career path, how you envision using AI to innovate within it, and how it could revolutionize the field. Focus on practical applications and potential impact
- Supporting Materials: Enhance your submission with prototypes, mockups, storyboards, or demo videos that illustrate your vision for AI in your field (this should be something you include as a part of your presentation).
- Submit your proposal: Complete the application form, upload your materials, and submit before September 19.
- Proposal Review: A panel of UNO faculty and staff will review submissions and select the five most innovative student proposals. Those selected for final presentations will be notified by Monday, September 29.
- Final Presentations: The top five proposals will present to a panel of judges on October 7 as finalists for the prize.
Students who plan to submit a proposal may have access to ChatGPT Edu to help. Consider applying for the ChatGPT x Students Pilot Program to retain access throughout the semester. For more details, check out the information below.
Judging Criteria
Creativity & Innovation: How original is your idea? Does it present a new approach or apply AI in unexpected ways? Judges look for submissions that think beyond conventional applications.
Potential Impact: Will your concept make a meaningful difference in your chosen field? Proposals are evaluated on their potential to solve real problems or create new opportunities.
Technical Feasibility: Could your idea reasonably be implemented with current or near-future AI capabilities? While visionary thinking is encouraged, concepts should have a path to reality.
Clear Communication: How effectively do you explain your concept? Judges value well-structured proposals and presentations that clearly document your development process and decision-making.
Why Should you Participate?
Real-World Skill Development
Gain hands-on experience with generative AI tools. Practice innovation, problem-solving and build skill that employers are looking for.
Career Boost
Stand out to local employers and boost your resume.
Win a Scholarship
First place: $1,000
Second place: $600
Third place: $400
A special thank you to Horace and Kate King Wu for their generous gift of the prize money.