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Canvas of the future

Co-creating the next era of learning and work with AI

Applications open on 12 January 2026

Bridging the power of technology, the creativity of visual expression, and the drive to imagine a better future, Canvas of the Future is an AI-powered art contest that showcases how AI can expand the possibilities of artistic creation. This year, the contest focuses on AI upskilling and the future of work, inviting artists to explore how emerging skills, tools, and knowledge are reshaping the next era of education and work.

AI for Good welcomes creators, educators, technologists, and artists from all fields to submit original works generated or enhanced with AI. Submissions should offer inventive perspectives on how education and work are evolving with the developments of AI, how humans and intelligent systems influence each other, and how creativity can thrive in a world shaped by AI.

The contest will run from January through March. The winner will be invited to attend and showcase their work at the AI for Good Global Summit 2026, to be held in Geneva on 7-10 July.

Rules

Bridging the power of technology, the creativity of visual expression, and the drive to imagine a better future, Canvas of the Future is an AI-powered art contest that showcases how AI can expand the possibilities of artistic creation. This year, the contest focuses on AI upskilling and the future of work, inviting artists to explore how emerging skills, tools, and knowledge are reshaping the next era of education and work.

AI for Good welcomes creators, educators, technologists, and artists from all fields to submit original works generated or enhanced with AI. Submissions should offer inventive perspectives on how education and work are evolving with the developments of AI, how humans and intelligent systems influence each other, and how creativity can thrive in a world shaped by AI.

The contest will run from January through March. The winner will be invited to attend and showcase their work at the AI for Good Global Summit 2026, to be held in Geneva on 7-10 July.

Rules
Goals
Bringing artists, AI experts, and innovators together to exchange ideas and collaborate. Inviting participants to showcase diverse artistic visions reflecting global experiences and perspectives for a better future for all.
  • Inspire creativity and innovation in education and work through AI
  • Foster interdisciplinary collaboration and amplify diverse voices
  • Raise awareness of AI for good
  • Drive positive change and impact
Contest Timeline
  • January 2026
    Contest launch

    Call for applications

    12 January

  • January – March 2026
    Submission phase

    Submission deadline

    15 March

  • March – April 2026
    Evaluation phase
  • July 2026
    Winner announcement

    Winner is invited to come to Geneva for the AI for Good Global Summit 2026

    7-10 July

Submissions guidelines
The submitted visual art should adhere to the following submission guidelines
  • Created using or with the help of AI technologies

    Using ethically sourced, licensable creative tools to ensure responsible use of AI

  • The creative and technical processes involved in creation are described

    Authorship, degree of human and AI input, data set choice, and technical tool choice 

  • One original and high-resolution digital image

    Minimum 300 dpi with no copyright infringement

  • International, universal, and relevant to the activities of UN institutions

    Themes are international or universal in character and of relevance to the fields of activity of the United Nations

Panel of judges
Explore the experts evaluating innovation and creativity

Coming soon

Judging criteria
The judging process will consist of three rounds: an internal panel review, a public vote, and a vote done by a panel of experts based on the following criteria
  • Creativity and originality
    The artwork displays a unique and imaginative perspective on the theme, either through a unique visual style, concept, fresh artistic narratives or symbolism that stand apart from common AI art themes
  • Relevance to theme
    The artwork aligns with the the contest theme exploring how AI is reshaping learning, professional environments, changing human roles and skills, or reflecting on cultural, societal, or personal shifts emerging from the integration of AI into everyday life
  • Effective use of AI technology
    The artwork is created or meaningfully enhanced using AI, and the creative and technical process are shared, including: the AI platforms, tools, or models used, any datasets, reference inputs, or training approaches applied, and how AI contributed to idea generation, composition, rendering, or refining the artwork
  • Connection to global challenges
    The artwork clearly illustrates the potential of AI in addressing real-world challenges
  • Visual impact and aesthetic appeal
    The artwork is visually striking, engaging, and effectively encourages viewers to explore the subject matter further, through strong composition, color, visual storytelling, symbolism or visual metaphors
  • Impact and message
    The artwork evokes a sense of wonder, curiosity, or reflection while communicating a clear vision, through a clear narrative or concept visible within the artwork, or viewer takeaway that encourages thought, discussion, or inspiration
  • Global relevance
    The artwork resonates with a diverse, international audience, transcending cultural boundaries and reflecting the interconnected nature of global challenges
Prizes
The winner of the contest will receive
  • Invitation to Global Summit 2025
  • Recognition and exposure
  • Canvas of the Future winner trophy
Ready to Share Your Vision?
Submit your AI-powered artwork and be part of the AI for Good movement.
Applications open on 12 January 2026
Artist Spotlight
Discover the remarkable AI-driven artworks of past contestants, showcasing the power of art to envision a future
2025
  • Binary Imprint
    This is a surreal portrait of a fingerprint — but not biological. Constructed from intricate networks of circuits, wires, and digital components, the print becomes a monument to modern identity.
    Nita Navaneethan
  • The digital Renaissance
    An Allegory of the Digital Renaissance In this painting, the ancient world turns toward the horizon of the future. Classical architecture — majestic yet motionless — opens symbolically onto a… Read more
    Jean Arnaud
  • You Can Go Anywhere You Want
    ``You Can Go Anywhere You Want`` is a visual message of hope dedicated to those struggling with mental health challenges. It features overlapping faces and shifting colors to represent inner… Read more
    SUIMA
  • Extinction in Bloom
    A crystalline 3D sculpture of a hummingbird’s head, forged in swirling multicolored glass, stares outward with reflective, glass-like eyes. In those eyes burns the image of a once-beautiful garden now… Read more
    Ledia Ariza
  • Feeding the Last
    In a dystopian world, a completely emaciated polar bear stands on a tiny fragment of ice in a contaminated ocean. Above, a person wearing an oxygen mask—connected to a transparent… Read more
    Harshavardhana Naganagoudar
  • A Canvas Called Home
    A Canvas Called Home reimagines one of the world’s most recognizable symbols of displacement - the refugee tent - not as a temporary shelter, but as a canvas for the… Read more
    Lisa Russell
  • the thought takes on the form of flesh
    In my image, a man inputs instructions into a terrarium-like environment capsule for conservation purposes. The man’s thoughts about the endangered species of butterfly inside the capsule, mediated by new… Read more
    Mara Papavassiliou
  • AI for identification to monitor & protect marine environments
    This surreal image depicts a fragile ecosystem blooming atop an iceberg of plastic waste. Polar bears are surrounded by huge tropical flowers, hinting at climate disruption. Multiple climates are present… Read more
    Ulrike Kerber
  • Breath of the Future in Forgotten Places
    This artwork envisions a world where advanced technology becomes the breath of life in communities long overlooked. Set in a rural African village, it captures the quiet revolution of AI-powered… Read more
    Katarzyna Domanska
  • Global Code of Peace
    ``Global Code of Peace`` visualizes a translucent dove born from flowing, Matrix-inspired binary streams, soaring above a pastel-watercolor world map. Beneath its wings, a geodesic network of illuminated nodes links… Read more
    Monika Uebele
  • Symbiosis
    A child and an elderly person meet , not in the physical world, but in an expanded reality. Both wear VR headsets, yet what connects them runs deeper: a light… Read more
    Selina Schneider
  • Hotel California, But for Tiny Creatures
    The Art of Biomimetic Coral Design: Building Ecosystems, One Layer at a Time. Biomimetic coral design is not just engineering—it’s ecological poetry cast in form. Inspired by the intelligence of… Read more
    Saloni Shukla
  • Connected by Blood, Powered by Technology
    In a time when the world feels increasingly divided—by borders, ideologies, and inequalities—this work is a visual heartbeat of unity. It reimagines Earth not merely as a home, but as… Read more
    Farnaz Farrokhi
  • Neural Cities
    “Neural Cities” is an AI-generated vision of a sustainable, human-centered future city. It combines modern urban architecture with nature-based elements and subtly integrated AI systems—like neural light networks, autonomous electric… Read more
    Martin Foldenauer
  • The First Touch of Life
    In a future where ecosystems have collapsed and voices have faded, an AI cradles a glowing flower reconstructed from lost data and emotional memory. This image captures the moment technology… Read more
    Sangwoo Kang
  • The Keepers of Tomorrow
    This artwork shows a group of children gathered around a glowing Earth, symbolising their shared responsibility for the planet’s future. Surrounded by books and AI tools, it reflects a balance… Read more
    Danielle Baloyi
2024
  • Faces of Extinction of Species: Our Faces, Their Faces
    This thought-provoking collection delves into the depths of existence, inviting you to witness the convergence of human and animal, the fading whispers of endangered species, and the visual expression of… Read more
    Baris Gencel
  • Harmony in Ascent
    ``Harmony in Ascent`` is a captivating artwork that transcends the canvas, echoing the urgent call for environmental conservation and sustainable practices.
    Isaac Lukambagire / Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
  • Eco Shangri La
    My alternate vision of Shangri La is not about material aesthetics or an idyllic eldorado. 'Eco Shangri La' is a sustainable, green, eco-friendly and biodiverse community catering for clean water,… Read more
    Obinna Okerekeocha / Moniepoint Inc
  • Resilience Amid Ruins
    In a landscape ravaged by neglect, ``Resilience Amid Ruins`` confronts viewers with the aftermath of environmental and societal collapse.
    Watson Hartsoe / Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Creative Bites: Children of the Future
    ``Creative Bites: Children of the Future`` is an AI-generated art collection that explores the transformative potential of emerging technologies to redefine our lives and unlock the full spectrum of human… Read more
    Iwona Fluda / Ministry of Creativity LLC
  • Contrast and Harmony: An Ode to Interconnected Worlds
    Balance and symbiosis are the messages this art wants to deliver. it depicts that the height of urbanity (symbolically the height of human existence) depends on the teeming depths of… Read more
    Muneeswaran mariappan / iucn
  • The Sustainable Aquatic Haven of the Future School
    n my artwork titled ``The Sustainable Aquatic Haven of the Future School,`` I aim to challenge the conventional norms of education by envisioning a school building that breaks away from… Read more
    Barbara Anna Zielonka / Nannestad High School
  • Hello human, what happened to my home?
    ``Hello human, what happened to my home?`` is a powerful piece of artwork that captures the heartbreaking reality of climate change and its devastating impact on the natural habitat of… Read more
    Kevin Abanto / Studio Kevin Abanto
  • Hope in the Face of Adversity
    In the captivating monochromatic image I shared, a poignant scene unfolds, bathed in shades of brown and grey, evoking a surreal and emotional ambiance. At the heart of the composition,… Read more
    Alex G. Mkwizu / University Of Dar es Salaam
  • Artistic Diplomacy
    ``Artistic Diplomacy`` serves as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness between art, diplomacy, and sustainable development, urging us to embrace the transformative power of artistic expression in forging a more… Read more
    Lisa Russell / Create2030
  • A Tiny Act, A Global Impact
    My work, “A tiny act, a global impact”, displays a queen bee pollinating a flower with new kind of stamens made of glass. Through such depiction I have tried to… Read more
    Nissan Leviathan / NissanLeviathan
  • The Hands that Shape Tomorrow
    The image depicts a young child on a stool reaching up to complete a large jigsaw puzzle that is mounted on a wall. The puzzle itself is visually striking; it… Read more
    Thomas Cassoudesalle / Pictet
  • Snow Leopard in AI Focus
    This AI artwork represents a breakthrough in wildlife conservation communication. Snow leopards, known for their elusive nature, rarely grace the human eye, let alone a camera lens, without the risk… Read more
    Alena Gorbacheva/UNDP
  • Hydro - Futurism
    It’s my heartfelt belief that it is crucial to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed ethically, with transparency and fairness at the forefront.
    Matt Parry / The Future Collective
  • The Desperation of Earth
    A Cry for Help, but from Whom? The artwork is a digital mosaic derived from a large climate change satellite dataset (10,000 satellite images from 1980 - 2020) demonstrating rising… Read more
    Rema Lab, Benedikt Falkenstein, Emine Arikan and Reshma Ramrattan

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