Build AI that doesn’t just see—it acts.

Do you have what it takes to turn AI vision into real-world action? Join our Pioneer 10 project challenge and show us what you can do with Axelera AI’s powerful Metis platform and a project kit with some great hardware to get you where you’re going.

Your mission: Detect something in the real world—and make something happen.

The Challenge

Create a project where computer vision triggers a meaningful, real-world response. Think smart notifications, voice alerts, automated systems, IoT interactions—anything that goes beyond detection and does something in the physical world around you.

Get creative, and show us how AI can interact with us in real, engaging ways.

What You’ll Get

Ten successful participants will be selected from the proposals, and receive an Axelera AI Project Kit worth €1,500+ that they’ll use to build their project:

• 🧠 Metis AI Accelerator System with M.2 Metis card pre-installed

• 2 x USB Cameras (1080p)

• MicroSD Card (for storage and reflashing)

• Wi-Fi Dongle (for remote connectivity)

• Alexa Echo Dot (for voice interaction)

• Sonoff Pro R3 Relay Module (for controlling devices)

• Arduino Uno Rev 4 (for GPIO automation)

Other than the Metis AI Accelerator System, you don’t have to use everything in the kit, and you can add your own hardware and software to the project if you want. This is provided to give you plenty of options for real world AI interactivity.

How to Join In

1. Read the T&Cs: Get the boring legal stuff out of the way. Read it, absorb it, agree with it.

2. Submit a Pitch: Tell us what you’ll build, how it works, and what action it takes. You have until 1st June 2025 to get your application in.

3. Get Selected: We’ll choose 10 standout ideas.

4. Receive Your Kit: We’ll arrange everything and send you the project kit for free.

5. Build & Share: Post updates as you build, get feedback, find help, and show your progress.

6. Deliver Your Project: Submit a demo video, write-up, and code repo to get in the running for the grand prizes.

7. Win Prizes :

   • 1st Place: €1,000

   • 2 Runners-up: €500 each

   • All successful projects: Certificate of Participation

Click here to send in your project proposal

Project Criteria

We’ll select projects to receive a kit based on a range of factors:

• Originality & creativity
• Technical merit
• Relevance to the Challenge theme
• Completeness of documentation
• Clarity and quality of presentation

But here’s something to think about: As much as we’re looking for super creative AI project ideas, we’re more likely to choose one that’s a little less ambitious but more likely to work within the project timeline, than an amazing idea that’s probably too adventerous to ever really work.

So be as creative as you can, while remembering that you’re actually going to need to make this work.

What Next?

1. Make sure you’ve joined this group on the Axelera AI commuity - this is where everything will happen.
2. Read and understand the terms and conditions.
3. Send in your project pitch. Be as detailed and creative as you like.
4. Ask any and all questions you might have in this group.

We can’t wait to see what you’ll build!