CUNY AI Innovation Challenge 2026 Banner

START HERE. INNOVATE ANYWHERE.

About the Challenge

Join a two-day hands-on innovation challenge where current CUNY undergraduate students from every major team up to solve real-world problems for CUNY and New York City using AI. Use this opportunity to express your creativity, develop your leadership skills, network and collaborate with your team, get support from mentors and present to judges for prizes.

This event is free for all CUNY students. You will form a team of 3-4 members per team to compete. This is more than a competition - this is your chance to gain practical experience. Collaborate with peers across CUNY and walk away with skills and connections that last well beyond the event. Join us to make a difference!

To register please fill out this form, accessible via the link below

Register Now!
Loading Timer...

Important Dates

Mon, March 09, 2026

Individual Registration begins.

Fri, April 10, 2026

  • Deadline For Individual Registration
  • Team Registration Begins
  • Teams must consist of 3 - 4 members.

    Fri, April 24, 2026

    The Main Event Day 1.
    9 AM to 9 PM
    BMCC Fiterman Hall at 245 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007

    Sat, April 25, 2026

    The Main Event Day 2.
    9 AM to 9 PM
    BMCC Fiterman Hall at 245 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007

    Participation Tracks

    Student teams of 3 to 4 members work in one of the three tracks.

    AI No-Code
    Tech Innovation Track

    Try out no-code and open-source AI tools to build useful projects. No programming background needed.

    This track is perfect for students who are curious about AI but may not have a computer science or coding background.

      - No prior coding experience required
      - Great for beginners in any majors, including design, business, science, and social sciences
    AI Data Science
    Innovation Track

    Turn data into insights and solutions that matter.

    In this track, you’ll use data and AI to explore real-world questions and make sense of patterns, trends, and opportunities.

      - Ideal for students interested in data, research, storytelling with numbers, or analytics
      - No need to be an expert programmer, it’s about thinking with data
    AI Software
    Innovation Track

    Build real AI-powered applications and intelligent systems.

    This track is for teams that want to create working open-source software solutions.

      - Good for participants with some coding or development experience
      - Open to students from any major who want to build and prototype AI solutions

    Social Good Themes

    Now here’s the exciting part: the exact challenge details will be revealed shortly. This challenge is designed to push your creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills as you develop innovative solutions using AI and Public Interest Technology to advance social good for the City University of New York (CUNY), New York City, and beyond.

    To register please fill out this form, accessible via the link below

    Register Now!
    Loading Timer...

    Goals & Impact

    In the world of tech, it’s a life of life-long learning, because things are changing every day. The idea is to be a problem-solver. You need to know how to learn new things and those are the human things the machine doesn’t know how to do yet.

    Workforce Readiness

    Prepare students for jobs where AI plays a major role.

    AI Equity

    Promote equitable access to AI skills and opportunities.

    Teamwork & Communication

    Build professional skills valued by employers.

    Life-long Learning

    Problem-solving and adaptability in a changing tech landscape.

    Prizes

    A "Certificate Of Participation" will be granted to all students who submit their project.

    1st Place Trophy

    1st Place

    $100 for each team member

    2nd Place Trophy

    2nd Place

    $75 for each team member

    3rd Place Trophy

    3rd Place

    $50 for each team member

    Honorable Place Trophy
    Honorable Awards

    $25 for each team member

    Hosted By

    BMCC Logo

    Supporters

    AI Tech Innovation Hub Logo
    PIT-UN Logo
    CUNY Tech Equity Initiative Logo
    Google Logo
    NSF Logo
    Medgar Evers Logo
    CUNY Logo
    Hunter Logo
    Bronx Community College Logo
    York College Logo
    Tech Learning Community Logo