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2026 Results

SINGULARITY

AI Essay Contest

Veritas AI's international AI essay contest for high school students ran in spring 2026, with over 500 essays from students in 50 countries. It is not running in 2027.

See the 2026 Winners View 2026 Prompts
Contest complete · Winners announced June 2026
3,200+
Students
160+
Countries
200+
Mentors
$290K+
In Aid
About the Contest

What Was Singularity?

The Singularity: AI Essay Contest was Veritas AI's free, international essay contest for high school students. It ran in spring 2026 and asked students to take a real position on questions that will shape how people think, work and live with artificial intelligence.

Prompts were contributed and judged by researchers from MIT, Yale and Oxford. Judges were looking for clarity of thought, depth of argument and the courage to take a position.

The contest is not running in 2027. This page records the 2026 contest and its winners.

The 2026 Contest

  • 500+ Essays, 50 Countries Open to high school students worldwide, and free to enter.
  • Expert Judges Researchers from MIT, Yale and Oxford, in a double-blind review.
  • Scholarships and Cash Prizes Winners received scholarships toward Veritas AI programs, and the top six received cash prizes.
Results

2026 Winners

Chosen from over 500 essays submitted by students in 50 countries.

Gold
Justin Iocco
Brooklyn Technical High School, United States
Silver
Matthew Pineda
St. Paul University Quezon City, Philippines
Silver
Srishti Purohit
Adarsh Public School, India
Bronze
Sheraz Hassan
The City School Ravi Campus, Pakistan
Bronze
Aarav Kalra
Saratoga High School, United States
Bronze
Sahir Suri
James Logan High School, United States

Read the winning essays

Essay Prompts

The 2026 Prompts

Students chose one of the five prompts below, each contributed by a researcher who also judged. Essays were limited to 1,500 words.

Prompt contributed by
Jonas Katona
Jonas Katona
PhD in Applied Mathematics
Yale University
Prompt 01

Can an AI system truly "understand" and "discover" scientific theories, or is it only approximating patterns in data? Does the distinction matter?

Judge's Commentary Modern LLMs often generate convincing explanations of scientific concepts and are increasingly used to assist in research. However, mechanistically, LLMs are essentially high-parameter black boxes trained on large amounts of data rather than directly grounded in physical reality and observations. Hence, is scientific understanding about internally consistent and correct reasoning, or about merely producing accurate predictions? If an AI gives correct answers without "understanding" the reasoning behind it, should we still say it reasons correctly? Should we treat it as a scientific authority?
Prompt contributed by
Andrey Boris Khesin
Andrey Boris Khesin
PhD in Mathematics
MIT
Prompt 02

If we have AI, how should the world change?

Judge's Commentary There have been many claims about the future of AI made by both experts and non-experts alike, many of whom have a vested interest in the topic. Two topics that come up frequently are AI's use of resources such as water and electricity, and the potential for AI to replace a large portion of the workforce. When large changes happen on too short of a timescale, there are often large structural problems if the system fails to adapt in time. There are preparations in all areas — from governance to industry to personal lives — that can ease or mitigate some of these problems.
Prompt contributed by
Henry Cerbone
Henry Cerbone
DPhil in Biology
University of Oxford
Prompt 03

Does AI make individual intelligence less valuable?

Judge's Commentary There is a view in philosophy that some people are unfairly better off when they're born based on factors like happening to enjoy their work or having a higher IQ. The rise of easily accessible LLMs has given everyone access to a PhD-level interlocutor in their pocket. Discuss how this interacts with the importance of being smart in today's world. You might find "Catching Crumbs from the Table" by Ted Chiang a useful starting point!
Prompt contributed by
Nick Koukoufilippas
Nick Koukoufilippas
PhD in Astrophysics
University of Oxford
Prompt 04

How should society balance technological progress with social responsibility to workers?

Judge's Commentary The transition we are currently under is critical: Humans Need Not Apply. What do we do when most people have become unemployable? Discuss.
Prompt contributed by
Alvaro Martinez-Pechero
Alvaro Martinez-Pechero
PhD in Engineering Science
University of Oxford
Prompt 05

In a world where AI can generate art, code, and literature in seconds, what remains uniquely human about the creative process?

Judge's Commentary As generative AI becomes more sophisticated, humans are forced to redefine the boundaries of human identity and authorship. This prompt encourages students to explore the philosophical distinction between algorithmic pattern-matching and genuine human inspiration. It's a call to think about what value we provide in an era of automated intelligence. Discuss whether "creativity" requires human intent and lived experience, or if the output is all that matters.
Evaluation

How Essays Are Judged

Essays were reviewed and scored across five criteria in a double-blind review process by a panel of judges from MIT, Yale and Oxford.

Originality
A distinct viewpoint and fresh insights that go beyond the obvious.
Analysis
A thorough understanding of the subject, supported by strong arguments.
Evidence
Well-substantiated arguments using credible, integrated sources.
Structure
Logical organization, clear progression of ideas, and smooth transitions.
Presentation
Meticulously edited, formal, grammatically correct academic writing.

Looking for a Way Into AI?

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