Run by students · Season 1 open
Start a chapter
Bring AI readiness to your school. Win up to $500 doing it.
We're students who built a free AI course because our schools weren't teaching it. To compete, your school needs an Ethics Lab chapter. Starting one takes 2 minutes, and anyone can do it. If your school already has one, just join it. Then build an AI-driven project that helps your community and compete for cash. We also have 10 optional lessons you can teach.
- 2 minutes to start a chapter
- Anyone in a chapter can compete
- Free, no dues
The Social Innovation Challenge
$850+ in prizes and counting
$250
$500
$100
Submit a short video and a one-page summary of your project. That's it.
$850+
in prizes and counting
10
optional lessons you can teach
2 min
to start a chapter
$0
to join, no dues
Made by students, for students
Your school has a club for everything. Except AI.
There's a club for business, one for debate, one for robotics. But AI is the thing every student will use for school, for work, and for the rest of their lives, and almost nobody is teaching it.
We started The Ethics Lab as students for exactly that reason, and built the lessons ourselves with help from teachers and professors. A chapter is how we hand all of it to you, and you're the one who starts it.
How a chapter works
Three steps. We kept it simple on purpose, because we're in school too.
Step 1 · Start
Start or join a chapter
Find your school, then make a free account. About two minutes and you're a chapter. Grab a few friends, that's enough. Anyone at your school can join, and everyone in it can compete. If your school already has a chapter, join that one instead.
Step 2 · Learn
Teach the lessons (optional)
We have 10 optional lessons you can teach at school, one per meeting. Press play, then talk it through. Anyone who misses one can catch up online. Everyone who finishes gets a digital certificate.
Step 3 · Build with AI
Build an AI project, then compete
Once you start a chapter, or join the one at your school, you can compete, on your own or in a team of up to 4. Build an AI-driven project that helps your community: a study helper for your school, a tool that spots fake news, a chatbot that answers questions for new students. Submit a short video and a one-pager, and make one chapter intro video for our Instagram. The top three projects win $500, $250, and $100.
The Social Innovation Challenge
Pick a problem in your community and build something with AI to help solve it: a study helper, a fake-news checker, a chatbot for new students. Then you show us.
How to enter
- 1
Have a chapter at your school
You need to be in a chapter to enter. No chapter yet? Start one in 2 minutes, anyone can. Already one there? Join it.
- 2
Go solo or make a team
Enter on your own or in a team of up to 4 from your chapter. The lessons are optional.
- 3
Build it and submit
Register and submit from your chapter page: a YouTube video and a one-pager, by April 10, 2027.
What you submit
One video Up to 3 minutes
Show what you did and who it helped.
One page PDF
The problem, what you did, and what changed.
What judges look for
- Who did it help, and can you show it?
- Is it a fresh, practical idea that fits the problem?
- Did you think about who could get hurt?
- Are the video and the one-pager clear?
Want to sponsor a prize? Email us
Now
Start a chapter
Find your school, make a free account, and you're a chapter. Anyone at your school can join it.
Dec to Feb
Teach the lessons (optional)
One per meeting, in person, if you want. Post your chapter video for our Instagram.
Feb to Apr
Build your project
Pick one problem in your community and build something with AI that helps solve it.
April 2027
Submit
Video and one-pager due. Winners announced in May.
What's in it for you
Tons of service hours
Every meeting, lesson, and project counts. We sign off on all of it as a 501(c)(3). Your district decides what counts, so check with your counselor.
Cash prizes
$500, $250, and $100 go to the three best projects.
A certificate for every member
Everyone who finishes the lessons gets one, which makes recruiting a lot easier.
Everything you get
Your chapter page
A join link and QR code for your school, plus members, meetings, attendance, and your Challenge team in one place.
10 optional lessons
Videos, discussion questions, worksheets, and guides.
Kickoff slides
A first-meeting deck with speaker notes.
Recruiting posters
A flyer and an Instagram post with your school's name.
Member certificates
One for everyone who finishes.
Check-ins with our team
Someone on our side all season.
Chapter leaders' Discord
Ask our team and leaders at other schools anything.
A feature on our Instagram
Your chapter video goes up on @the_ethics_lab.
Get a head start with the chapter starter packet
Your season plan, recruiting tips, a sponsor email, and discussion prompts for every lesson. 7 pages.
Takes 2 minutes
Start your chapter
- 1
Start your chapter 2 min
Find your school, answer a few questions, and make a free account. No essay, no teacher signature. Your kit unlocks right away.
Welcome call with Anshul Highly recommended
Book a 15-minute call with Anshul Shah, our Director of Partnerships, right after you start. He walks you through meetings, lessons, recruiting, and the Challenge.
- 3
Everyone can compete Then
Tell your friends. Anyone at your school can join your chapter and enter the Challenge.
Your school already has a chapter? Join that one instead of starting a new one. Search your school when you sign up and join in one tap, or use the link your chapter lead shares.
Freshman or sophomore? Start now and you get to lead your chapter for years. Juniors and seniors, you're welcome too.
Find your school
Start its chapter, or join the one that's already there. You make your free account right after.
Find my schoolHave an account? Log in
Questions
- What does it cost?
- Nothing. No dues and no fees. We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Do I need to know anything about AI?
- No. Our 10 lessons are optional, but they cover the basics if you want a head start.
- How many members do I need?
- There's no minimum. Start with a few friends and grow from there.
- Where and how often do we meet?
- In person at your school, whenever works: lunch, after school, or a club period. If you teach the optional lessons, one per meeting is a good pace.
- Do I need a teacher sponsor?
- Not to apply. Most schools need a staff sponsor to make a club official, and we can help you ask on your welcome call.
- Is it all online?
- Everything from us is: the lessons, your kit, your check-ins, and the Challenge. Your chapter meets however works at your school, at lunch, after school, or online.
- How long does it take to start a chapter?
- About 2 minutes. Find your school, start the chapter, and make a free account. Your kit unlocks right away. Your chapter is approved right away. After that, we highly recommend a 15-minute welcome call with Anshul, our Director of Partnerships. He walks you through everything your chapter can do. You get the link to book it as soon as you start.
- My school already has a chapter. How do I join?
- Join that one instead of starting a new one. Ask your chapter lead to add you. Don't know who it is? Email anik@ethicslabs.ai with your school's name and we'll connect you.
- Who can enter the Social Innovation Challenge?
- Anyone in an Ethics Lab chapter. If your school doesn't have one, start it in 2 minutes. If it does, join it. The lessons are optional. Enter on your own or in a team of up to 4 from your chapter. The project has to use AI to help your community. You pick the problem and how AI solves it.
- I already run an AI or ethics club.
- Bring it in. Keep your club's name and officers, and run our lessons and the Challenge as your chapter.
Teacher or club advisor? Send a student this page, or bring the full course to your classes.
Start a chapterQuestions? Ask in Discord
Our team and student leaders from other schools are in the Discord. Ask about starting a chapter, getting a sponsor, or anything else. It's free.
Free, one minute to register