A nationwide search has begun for Filipino high school students who will form the country’s first national team for the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence, a global academic competition focused on both the creation and responsible application of artificial intelligence.
The International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) brings together secondary school students from around the world to test their skills in designing AI systems while grounding their work in ethical principles. The competition reflects the growing international demand for young innovators who understand not only how artificial intelligence works, but also how it should be used.
The Philippines’ participation is being led by the Ateneo de Manila Business Insights Laboratory for Development, or Ateneo BUILD, a research and innovation laboratory under the John Gokongwei School of Management of Ateneo de Manila University. Ateneo BUILD has been named the country’s sole accredited coordinator for IOAI and is responsible for organizing the national selection process and training the four students who will represent the Philippines.
The selected delegation will compete in the global finals to be held at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from August 2 to 8, 2026. The most recent IOAI, staged in Beijing in 2025, drew hundreds of student competitors from more than 60 countries.
Organizers emphasized that IOAI Philippines is a national program and is not confined to any single school or academic network. In line with international IOAI rules, the competition is open to all eligible high school students from Grades 7 to 12, including those from public, private and science high schools. The selection process is designed to be inclusive and merit-based, with the aim of identifying the strongest candidates from across the country.
The competition begins with the National Eliminations, which focus on logic, reasoning and scientific inquiry. This initial stage is intended to be accessible to students with strong problem-solving abilities, even if they have little or no background in programming.
As participants advance to the semifinals and national finals, the contest becomes more technical. Students will be assessed on a demanding syllabus that includes machine learning, computer vision and AI ethics. Finalists will take part in a selection boot camp and undergo intensive training from April to June to prepare them for international competition.
The initiative is being positioned as a whole-of-nation effort to showcase the readiness of Filipino youth to engage with emerging technologies. It aligns with the Department of Education’s MATATAG Agenda, as well as national science, technology and innovation priorities set by the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Ateneo BUILD said the program is nonprofit and strictly merit-based, with digital equity as a core principle. Online platforms will be used to ensure that students from all 17 regions of the country can participate on equal footing.
Organizers are also open to partnerships with institutions and organizations willing to help support the national team’s travel and registration expenses, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent deserving students from competing.
National Eliminations registration is open until Jan. 25. Interested students may apply through www.ioaiph.org.