Title: Jamaican Family’s AI App Competition Awards 6-Year-Old Winner $50,000 Prize
A Jamaican family’s routine Sunday dinner discussion has led to the creation of innovative AI apps and a competition that awarded a 6-year-old girl a $50,000 cash prize. The Crawford family, inspired by a conversation about artificial intelligence (AI), decided to launch a competition to see who could develop the best AI app.
The competition was open to all members of the family, but it was Georgia Crawford, along with her children Rhea, Skye, and Nathan, as well as her 6-year-old niece Isabelle, who took on the challenge. The idea for the competition came after discussing the potential of AI, sparked by an article about universities expressing concerns over its use.
The family engaged in discussions about the pros and cons of AI, with the children actively participating and sharing their thoughts. They then came up with the idea for a competition in which each participant would develop an app that could help people in various ways. Each person was tasked with creating five app ideas, which were then narrowed down to the most promising concept.
To bring their ideas to life, the family sought the help of app developers. They had meetings with the developers to explain their app ideas, including the target audience and intended purpose. The children impressed the family with their articulate descriptions and thoughtfulness in designing the apps. After several weeks of discussions and fine-tuning, the apps were finalized and presented in a video where the participants explained their creations and why they should win.
The video, along with links to the apps, was shared on the family members’ social media pages to allow friends and followers to vote for their favorites. To ensure fairness, the judging criteria included the impact of the app, its innovation, functionality, and the viewers’ choice based on votes from the promotional video.
Ultimately, Isabelle’s Grow My Garden App, which provides advice on planting based on location, emerged as the winner of both the people’s choice award and the overall competition. The family plans to partner with organizations such as the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Ministry of Education to make the winning app, as well as the runner-up app called What Should I do App by Nathan, available to the public.
The goal is to expand Isabelle’s app by allowing farmers to upload information about their plots and receive advice on the best plants for their area. Through partnering with the Ministry of Education, Nathan’s app will offer career suggestions for students based on their input.
The Crawford family believes that the competition has not only nurtured their children’s creativity but also strengthened their confidence and critical thinking skills. They credit the routine family dinners as an essential bonding time where they discuss current affairs and encourage open dialogue.
The success of their family app competition showcases the importance of coming together, fostering innovation, and inspiring the next generation to make positive contributions through technology. With their apps ready to make a real impact, the Crawford family looks forward to sharing their creations with the wider community.
