SCAI AI Open Saskatoon 2026

Register for SCAI AI Open SaskatoonEnter the competition through the SCAI CONNECT 2026 registration page—select the AI Challenge checkbox when registering. AI Open SaskatoonA timed competition to highlight the prowess of AI. What can you create in 72 hours? Presented by the Saskatchewan Council for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI), AI Open Saskatoon invites individuals and teams of two to put AI to work in a timed competition. The brief drops Monday evening. By Thursday evening, your submission must be in. Use AI to help develop your solution, integrate AI into how it works, or do both. Bring your creativity, resourcefulness, and willingness to build. The timeline All times are Saskatchewan time (UTC−6). • Registration closes: Monday, October 5, 2026, at 5 PM • Competition brief released: Monday, October 5, at 6 PM • Submissions due: Thursday, October 8, at 6 PM • Finalist presentations: Friday, October 9, between 6:30 PM and 9 PM, in person in Saskatoon What’s at stake • First prize: One-year Claude Pro subscription • Second prize: Six-month Claude Pro subscription • Third prize: Three-month Claude Pro subscription The five finalists will each receive a lifetime SCAI Founders Membership. What you’ll submit • A short essay describing the problem you addressed • A short essay explaining your solution and how you used AI • Screenshots demonstrating what your solution can do You may also include a link to a working solution for further evaluation, but a live link is optional. How finalists are selected Overall effort will be central to shortlisting. Incomplete submissions demonstrating exceptional effort may be considered and may receive additional time to prepare for the finalist presentation. The SCAI board will select the five finalists at its discretion. Finalists must present in person on October 9 and include a live demonstration of their solution. Presenting participants must be 19 or older. Entries may be individual or teams of up to two people. How to enter Register for SCAI CONNECT 2026 through the SCAI website and select the AI Challenge checkbox. Submit using the same email address used for registration. Already registered without selecting AI Challenge? Email [email protected] to request participation. Participation terms • Entries may be submitted individually or by teams of up to two people. • Participants must be available to present in person in Saskatoon on October 9, 2026, between 6:30 PM and 9 PM, if selected as finalists. • Presenting participants must be 19 years of age or older. • Finalist presentations must include a live demonstration of the solution. • Registration closes October 5 at 5 PM. The competition opens October 5 at 6 PM, and submissions are due October 8 at 6 PM. All times are Saskatchewan time (UTC−6). • Submissions must use an email address registered for SCAI CONNECT 2026 with AI Challenge selected. If you registered without selecting it, email [email protected] to request participation. • Each submission must include a short essay about the identified problem, a short essay explaining the solution and how AI was used, and screenshots demonstrating the solution’s capabilities. A link to a deployed solution is optional. • Shortlisting will focus on overall effort; the problem chosen will not be the primary consideration. Incomplete submissions showing exceptional effort may be considered and may receive an extension to prepare for the finalist presentation. • The SCAI board reserves discretion to select the five finalists. Finalists will be notified by email before midnight on October 8. We respectfully acknowledge that SCAI CONNECT 2026 takes place on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We honour the First Nations and Métis peoples who have cared for these lands for generations and recognize their enduring contributions to the communities we share today.