Machines that learn
Artificial Intelligence
Teams train and deploy models that do a real job, from image classifiers to language tools, and show how they tested them for accuracy and fairness.
Artificial Intelligence is one of 12 competition categories in TechFest Australia, a national technology competition and festival for Australian school students and young innovators. It is open to Junior (Years 3–6), Secondary (Years 7–12), Tertiary (University or TAFE) and Open (Ages 18–30) entries.
The 2027 challenge
Build an AI tool for people in regional and remote Australia, where the nearest service can be a long drive away, and test it with the people it is meant to help.
Example projects
- Phone app that identifies weeds from a photo and suggests a control method
- Model that sorts wildlife camera-trap images by species
- Voice assistant that reads timetables and school notices aloud for vision-impaired students
Flagship challenge
AI for Good Sprint
Two days. One real problem. A working answer.
At the start of the sprint, teams receive a problem statement and an open dataset tied to an Australian issue such as bushfire risk, water use or access to health care. They have two days to build a working prototype and present it in a short live demo. Judging looks at usefulness, responsible use of data and how clearly the team explains its limits.
- Divisions
- Secondary · Tertiary · Open
- Team
- 1–5
- Format
- Two-day sprint
- Output
- Prototype + 3-minute demo
Season 2027 dates
- Registrations open
- To be announced
- Registrations close
- 19 February 2027
- Proposals due
- 26 February 2027
- National final and festival
- 30 September 2027 to 3 October 2027
Indicative dates, final schedule to be confirmed. The entry fee for the 2027 season will be published before registrations open.