On January 12, the Information Technologies Educational and Research Center at Yerevan State University (YSU) hosted the preliminary selection phase for the Armenian national team for the International Winter AI Olympiad (IAIO) 2026. High school students participated in this competition, which will determine the four-member national team to represent Armenia in this internationally recognized artificial intelligence competition.
Speaking about the format of the preliminary phase, Artur Avagyan, Executive Director of the IT Educational and Research Center, noted, "In the preliminary phase, students are assigned three types of tasks. During the competition, they engage with computer vision and robotics, as well as machine learning and natural language processing. The format combines theoretical knowledge with mathematical and algorithmic problem-solving, followed by practical challenges involving the development of AI models. The test tasks include a series of questions from the scientific phase of IAIO 2024, designed to assess participants' knowledge, understanding of fundamental AI concepts, and their ability to apply these concepts to solve problems effectively. Other tasks also require analyzing real-world scenarios to find solutions."
The International Winter AI Olympiad (IAIO) 2026 will take place from February 23–27 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The competition is organized on the platform of the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence at the Jožef Stefan Institute. It aims to bring together young talents to solve theoretical and practical challenges in artificial intelligence.
IAIO is a relatively new initiative, with its first edition held from September 8–12, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Over 90 young participants from 25 countries competed for awards, collaborating with experienced professionals in the field and emphasizing the ethical aspects of AI applications.
IAIO 2026 is expected to host over 120 participants from 38 countries. The competition provides an opportunity for participants to deepen their AI knowledge, enhance their algorithm development and problem-solving skills, and gain international competitive experience. That environment fosters innovative thinking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among young participants from different countries.
