Register hereThe ITU AI/ML in 5G Challenge offers carefully curated problem statements, a mix of real-world and simulated data, technical webinars, mentoring, and hands-on sessions. Teams participating in the Challenge enable, create, train and deploy ML models for communication networks. This enables participants to not only showcase their talent, test their concepts on real data and real-world problems, and compete for global recognition including prize money and certificates, but also enter the world of ITU standards by mapping their solutions to our specifications.
Join the ITU AI/ML in 5G Challenge!
ML/5G Challenge problem statements
Specializing Large Language Models for Telecom Networks by ITU AI/ML in 5G Challenge- Build-a-thon 4.0
- Synesthesia of Machines (SoM) Challenge 2025
- Large Wireless Models (LWM) Challenge
Upcoming events
20 March 2026
•14:30 - 15:30
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
25 March 2026
•12:00 - 13:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
1 April 2026
•12:00 - 13:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
ITU AI/ML Challenges 2024 ReportCrowdsourcing AI and Machine Learning solutions for SDGs
The ITU Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) Challenges are competitions where anyone can participate to solve problem statements to advance the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using AI/ML. The competitions enable participants to connect with new partners – and new tools and data resources – to achieve goals set out by problem statements contributed by industry and academia.
Our partners
Hosts of problem statements
Technical partners
I’m a health tech enthusiast and my UNDP R42 group’s work is on an AI in 5G mobile chatbot providing COVID-19 information. My work spans Africa and Europe, and I aim to reach more regions to influence global markets and society, young and old. ITU has been fantastic in bringing together such dynamic participants to take part in innovations for 2020 challenges.
Mahlet Shimellis
UNDP, Ethiopia/United States
The ITU AI/ML in 5G Challenge has provided a great opportunity to bring together standardization activities with academia by allowing students and professionals to solve important problems in communications. In particular, the challenge has led to obtaining very interesting results that may open the door to revolutionize the way communications are understood. For the Dynamic Channel Bonding problem, the application of Deep Learning models accounts for a significant breakthrough in the field.
Francesc Wilhelmi
PhD Student, Wireless Networking Research Group, UPF, Spain
I feel ecstatic to say that my participation in the ITU AI/ ML in 5G Challenge has been a great learning experience. It’s been a good opportunity to work on the exploratory problems in wireless communication and trying to find solutions to them using AI/ ML approaches.
Megha Gururaj Kulkarni
Student, PES University, India
2 March 2026
25 February 2026