Announcing the next challenge in the CTE Momentum challenge series.
Career and technical education (CTE) programs play a critical role in preparing students for real jobs after graduation by exposing them to technical and durable skills and competencies they will need to succeed. Technology skills are already part of foundational job training, even for careers that did not traditionally require tech skills. Today’s construction workers operate GPS-guided equipment and electricians install smart grid technologies and work with predictive maintenance systems that use artificial intelligence to prevent outages.
The arrival of generative AI is only accelerating the transformation of work. The International Monetary Fund projects that 40% of jobs worldwide will be impacted by AI, creating new career pathways while reshaping existing ones. Regardless of their chosen career path, students need to be prepared to navigate the accelerating workplace transformation driven by AI with foundational understanding and capacity to navigate the opportunities — and risks — of AI at work. This preparation is particularly crucial for CTE students who are entering fields where AI integration is happening rapidly, from manufacturing and healthcare to agriculture and transportation.
Launched in 2023, CTE Momentum is an annual challenge series from the U.S. Department of Education to prepare high school students for rewarding careers and increase access to career and technical education. Through the series, the Department invites educators and high school students to participate in an annual challenge focused on a topic of national importance. Building on the success of previous challenges that connected students directly to emerging industries such as energy and space, this year’s challenge reflects the urgent need to prepare the next generation for a workplace where artificial intelligence will be a fundamental tool across virtually every career path.
The Your AI Horizons Challenge, designed and produced by Luminary Labs, is a nationwide challenge inspiring high school students to envision AI-driven careers. Through this challenge, students will use curated resources to explore AI’s impact on their future career paths. Winning teams will demonstrate AI understanding by proposing implementation plans rooted in real workplace needs while also addressing potential ethical or safety considerations related to the use of AI. CTE programs are uniquely positioned to support students in their early exploration of career opportunities, and this program will encourage teachers and students to imagine AI-driven career transformation together.
Submissions are now open and will close on November 19, 2025. A judging panel will recommend up to 10 winning teams, who will each receive an equal share of the $50,000 prize pool. The U.S. Department of Education will announce winning teams in 2026.
Share the Your AI Horizons Challenge website with teachers in your network and invite them to sign up for the CTE Momentum newsletter.