Welcome to the SA Artificial Intelligence Olympiad website
PLAY. LEARN. RISE.
PLAY. LEARN. RISE.
We recognize that artificial intelligence isn’t covered in South African high school curriculums, so this programme gives you the opportunity to gain foundational knowledge in AI, then provides pathways to build on that foundation and compete in international AI olympiads and competitions, opening doors to opportunities and showcasing your talent on a global stage.
This isn’t just another initiative. It’s a chance to gain real-world skills in one of the most exciting and in-demand fields today. AI is changing industries, careers, and the world—why not start your journey here?
This olympiad is designed specifically for high school learners with no prior artificial intelligence or computer science knowledge, providing an accessible and engaging introduction to AI.
From building foundational knowledge to programming, we empower students to explore artificial intelligence, develop problem-solving skills and use technology to create solutions for real-world challenges.
You will be answering application-based questions and solving logic, analytical and pattern recognition problems and will be presented with programming tasks and advanced AI concepts and applications in the latter rounds.
High school students in South Africa and younger than 20 years old on 31 July 2025 are eligible for participation.
The competition rounds will take place online. After registering, participants will receive an email with the access token and link to the olympiad platform. Allow up to 24 hours for the token to be sent.
BASIC Cycle: Rounds 1& 2 | 3rd March -7th April
PREPARATORY Cycle: Round 3 | 14th -30th April
TEAM PREP Stage: June and July
Contestants will be selected to participate in international competitions or to pursue the olympiad fundamentals and intermediate training programmes from July to September.
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Support students by providing access to school computers and allocating time for the online competition rounds to be completed, thus helping them take full advantage of this exciting opportunity.
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Whether you're completely new to AI or have some background in coding, engineering, or tech-related subjects, this program meets you where you are.
You’ll start by building a strong foundation in AI concepts and then progress to more advanced concepts and applications.
Register and complete the tasks in your own time. Round 1 will take about 1-3 hours to complete.
By becoming a sponsor or partner, you can help SAAIO unlock opportunities for talented students, ensuring they have the resources to excel. Your support can provide access to training, mentorship, and competition preparation.
Community training centres play a vital role by offering access to computers for the online rounds, ensuring that every participant has a fair chance to compete and succeed.
AI is one of the most rapidly advancing fields in technology today. By participating in an AI olympiad, students get the opportunity to learn about and work with the latest advancements in AI. This exposure can ignite a passion for technology and innovation.
AI Olympiads play a crucial role in developing Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills by fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and technological literacy.
These competitions encourage creativity and innovation and promote collaboration and digital fluency, equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly automated and interconnected world.
Participating and excelling in an AI olympiad can open doors to scholarships, internships, and other educational opportunities. It can also enhance college applications and demonstrates a student's commitment to learning in challenging fields.
The closing date for registrations is approaching fast and we’re making preparations. Don’t miss out!
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The big day may have come and gone, but keep in touch as we’re always up to something new and exciting.
Download the shareable school flyer.
Download the spreadsheet for bulk registration.
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