1M1B Hosts India AI Youth Awards to Recognize Future Leaders

1M1B (One Million for One Billion), a UN-accredited, youth and AI-focused skilling organisation, hosted the first of its kind initiative, the India AI Youth Awards, to recognise and unearth the next generation of future leaders who are using AI (Artificial Intelligence) for good and creating a positive impact in society. The winner of the 1st edition of the India AI Youth Awards is Arjun Manocha from Darbari Lal DAV Model School, Pitampura,,Delhi for his project ‘Sporty Coach’- it is a digital personalized AI-based sports academy for people who cannot afford sports academies or who have under availability of sports academies in their areas. . The students were awarded at the 'AI Future Leaders Summit', held at Delhi Public School, Bangalore North , organised by 1M1B as a special briefing in support of the UN Summit of the Future.

The final twenty projects were shortlisted for the final round from over 500 projects that were received from across the country, which includes cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Hisar, Gangtok, Gurugram, Meerut, Pune, etc. The first runner-up is Project Vision Glasses by Aditya Vikram, Fagun Bhutani from DAV Pushpanjali Enclave, Delhi, and the second runner-up is Project Agni Suraksha  by Aastha, Arshia Goswami and Tanishq  from Army Public School, Meerut Cantt, Meerut.

The guest of honour at the event was Darrin Farrant, Director of the United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan, who felicitated the winners with the awards. Later, selected students will be given the opportunity to attend the annual 1M1B summit at the United Nations headquarters in New York in December 2024. The event was also attended by leaders from IBM, CBSE and other organisations along with teachers from CBSE schools.

Founded in 2014, 1M1B (One Million for One Billion) is a UN-accredited organization with a profound mission: to empower youth leaders, impact a billion lives.

1M1B engages and enables youth to become future-ready problem solvers creating real-world impact.   The 1M1B programs focus on nurturing innovation and fostering the next generation of human- centered leaders who use new age tools to address age-old challenges.

Manav Subodh, Founder of 1M1B, said: “It is a proud moment for 1M1B to be the first organization in AI for Sustainability and Green Skills. Today we are recognising and celebrating young changemakers who are leveraging AI to create a better world. Select students will be given opportunities to represent India in various international forum on AI including participating at the 8th annual 1M1B Activate Impact Summit at the United Nations Headquarters, New York”

1M1B is accelerating the United Nations 2030 agenda by empowering and enabling the youth of India to leverage AI to achieve the Sustainable development goals. Over the last 8 years over 150 selected young change makers from India have participated in the annual 1M1B Activate Impact Summits at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. 

Darrin Farrant, Director of the United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan said: “I have been profoundly inspired by what I have seen and heard today. These changemakers from across India, and their extraordinary projects, show what enormous potential our young people have. They are bringing passion, dedication and smarts to come up with novel solutions to some of our biggest challenges. They are also demonstrating that AI, used appropriately, can be a transformative force for good. I’m excited to see how 1M1B’s AI for SDGs initiatives unfold.”

The AI Future Leaders Summit witnessed the attendance of 500 educators and students. The event commenced with the India AI Youth Awards Final Pitches, followed by panel discussions on the different topics like Empowering youth on AI and Sustainability and AI and Sustainability, voices of young people and award ceremony.