HCM City’s AI Challenge 2024 contest is open to entries until July 31. — VNS Photo Courtesy of the organisers

HCM CITY — The fifth edition of HCM City’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Challenge contest for AI-powered solutions and products is open to entries until July 31.

Speaking at the kick-off event held in the city last Friday, deputy director of the city’s Department of Information and Communication Võ Minh Thành said the contest aimed to promote scientific research activities and innovative start-up projects in AI applications, which would contribute to effectively implementing the city's digital transformation strategy and promote the process of building a smart city.

“It encourages individuals and research groups at home and abroad to propose AI-powered solutions to help local authorities deal with current social problems in the city,” he said.

The contest targets information technology students, AI experts across the country and overseas Vietnamese, according to organisers.

It is divided into two tables, including Table A for college and university students and youth, and Table B for high-school students.

Its two categories are AI-Challenge and AI-Solution.

AI-Challenge seeks AI-based solutions for event retrieval from visual data.

AI-Solution looks for outstanding solutions and products based on artificial intelligence technologies in key socio-economic sectors such as production, business, transportation, finance, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture, and serving the community.

The contest format is similar to international competitions such as Lifelog Search Challenge (LSC) and Video Browser Showdown (VBS).

All domestic and foreign individuals and organisations can register online by filling out a form at https://aichallenge.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/ or at the Department of Information and Communications office No. 59 on Lý Tự Trọng Street in District 1.

The organisers are encouraging participants to attach files, photos, videos and links related to their work.

A jury of experts and scientists from universities and associations will decide the winners.

The number of prizes will be decided by the organising board and the judges, with total prize value of VNĐ200 million (US$7,855).

Funding for the prizes will be mobilised from various sources.

The awards ceremony is expected to be held in October.

The winners will be supported to connect with experts and scientists to continue completing their products, or introduce their solutions and products to potential organisations and companies.

They will also have the opportunity to participate in the 13th International Symposium on Information and Communication Technology (SoICT 2024), and the best ones will be introduced to attend the 2025 ACM Multimedia Conference to be held in October, 2025 in Ireland.

Many sideline events will be arranged within the framework of the contest, including a scientific conference called "The HCM City AI research and development programme - Improving human resources, building the future"; a meeting between the city leaders and outstanding students in information technology and AI; and training to raise awareness and skills about AI and digital transformation in the city.

This year’s contest is organised by the city’s Department of Information and Communications in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Science and Technology, the Việt Nam National University-HCM City, Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union of HCM City, the HCM City Computer Association and Youth Centre of Science and Technology Development.

Last year, the contest attracted 631 teams and more than 2,700 contestants at home and abroad. — VNS