XPRIZE AI
XPRIZE
Description
The XPRIZE AI Competition is a $10-50 million global competition designed to accelerate breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional grants, XPRIZE competitions incentivize innovation through prize purses awarded to teams that achieve specific, audacious goals. Current and past AI-focused competitions include the IBM Watson AI XPRIZE ($5M) and the upcoming XPRIZE Health with significant AI components.
For ZHC builders, XPRIZE offers a unique model — non-dilutive funding where you compete against other innovators to achieve measurable breakthroughs. Competitions typically run 3-5 years with milestone prizes along the way, making this suitable for ambitious technical teams working on high-impact AI problems.
Eligibility
Competition Structure
- Open to: Global teams (startups, researchers, individuals)
- Team size: No restrictions (can be solo or large consortiums)
- Duration: 3-5 years typical competition timeline
- Milestone prizes: Smaller awards for intermediate achievements
- Grand prize: $5M-$50M for final winner(s)
Selection Criteria
- Ability to achieve specific technical benchmarks
- Innovation and novelty of approach
- Potential for real-world impact
- Technical feasibility and execution capability
ZHC-Specific Fit
✅ Excellent for:
- Technical teams with breakthrough AI concepts
- Researchers and innovators seeking non-dilutive funding
- Projects with clear, measurable success criteria
- Teams comfortable with competitive environment
- High-risk, high-reward AI development
❌ Poor fit if:
- Need guaranteed funding (competition has no guarantees)
- Short timeline requirements (competitions run years)
- Cannot commit to multi-year effort
- Prefer traditional grant structure
Application Process
Competition Timeline
| Phase | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Months 1-6 | Team registration and qualification |
| Development | Years 1-3 | Teams build and test solutions |
| Milestone rounds | Periodic | Intermediate testing and prizes |
| Final testing | Month 36-48 | Independent validation of solutions |
| Winner announcement | Final | Grand prize awarded |
Active AI Competitions
| Competition | Prize | Focus | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANA Avatar XPRIZE | $10M | Telepresence robotics + AI | Completed |
| IBM Watson AI XPRIZE | $5M | AI for world benefit | Completed |
| XPRIZE Health | $10M+ | AI health diagnostics | Active |
| Future competitions | Varies | Check website for updates | — |
Competition Rules
- Open to global participants
- Solutions must be demonstrated in controlled testing
- Independent judges evaluate all submissions
- Milestone prizes awarded for intermediate achievements
- Intellectual property remains with teams
- Public demonstrations required for final round