How did you get this opportunity to participate at the IOAI?

Our Diploma in AI & Data Engineering Course Coordinator shared with my coursemates and I about this opportunity. She suggested that we take the initial selection test at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) for the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) competition. 

We then started preparing for the selection test, with support from lecturers and coursemates.

I feel honoured to have been selected for the competition.

How was the competition like? 

We pitted against more than 40 teams across the world in the Scientific Round, which focused on three main topics: Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Computer Vision-related tasks. We had to show our AI knowledge and skillsets while solving problems using real-world datasets - all within 8 hours!

While we had individual tasks to complete (I mainly focused on the task for Machine Learning), we also worked together when any of us had difficulties.

Upon completing the first round successfully, we took part in a hands-on Practical round. We had to generate images and videos using AI tools.

How did you feel about working with your team? Was there anything memorable?

I felt privileged to be able to work with some of Singapore’s most talented students with similar interests in AI. This collaboration has provided me with valuable insights into my strengths, such as my analytical and coding skills. However, it has also highlighted areas for improvement, such as the need to understand more niche machine-learning techniques.

Following this competition, how do you intend to develop further?

I plan to deepen my expertise and pursue even more advanced projects. I largely attribute my success and opportunity to my Diploma in AI & Data Engineering. The diploma helps me to hone my skills in AI & Data Engineering in a holistic manner, so that I have the chance to work on projects to solve real industry problem statements. The industry-relevant training has also better prepared me to tackle future challenges.

Jia Shuo actively develops his skills and knowledge through experiences like the Singapore Young Leaders Programme, Huawei's ICT Competition, and M5Stack Project Competition. Additionally, he benefitted from mentorship with Harvard University alumni as he explored his academic and career interests.