The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and Google DeepMind have announced the AI for Organizations Grand Challenge, a new competition designed to help scholars support organizations in embracing the era of AI.
University researchers have been invited to submit their boldest ideas.
Earlier this year, the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence published the annual AI Index Report. The report highlights the most important trends in artificial intelligence and AI’s growing role in science, medicine, business, and the public sector life.
According to the report, nearly 90% of notable AI models in 2024 originated from the industry, up from 60% in 2023, although academia remains the primary source of highly cited models research.
Two-thirds of countries now offer or plan to provide K–12 computer science (CS) education—double the number from 2019—with Latin America standing out as the most notable progress.
In the U.S., the number of graduates with bachelor’s degrees in computing has increased by 22% over the last decade, and 81% of K–12 computer science teachers believe AI should be part of foundational computer science education. Still, fewer than half feel adequately prepared to teach it.
A key takeaway from the 2025 report is that AI systems have made significant advancements in generating video content. In some cases, language model agents have even outperformed humans in programming tasks under tight deadlines.
The report also highlights that in 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 223 AI-enabled medical devices, a dramatic increase from just six in 2015.
Self-driving cars provide over 150,000 autonomous rides each week.
In 2024, private investment in AI in the U.S. reached $109.1 billion, while globally, generative AI attracted $33.9 billion in private investment, representing an 18.7% increase from 2023.
Furthermore, in 2024, 78% of organizations reported using AI, up from 55% the previous year. In 2024, U.S.-based institutions produced 40 notable AI models.
Global cooperation on AI governance has intensified, with organizations such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Union, the United Nations, and the African Union releasing frameworks that focus on transparency, trustworthiness, and responsible AI principles.
In countries like China (83%), Indonesia (80%), and Thailand (77%), strong majorities consider AI products and services to be more beneficial than harmful. In contrast, optimism about AI is significantly lower in Canada (40%), the United States (39%), and the Netherlands (36%). However, sentiment is shifting: since 2022, optimism has increased in several previously skeptical countries, including Germany (+10%), France (+10%), Canada (+8%), the United Kingdom (+8%), and the United States (+4%).
Governments are also investing significantly in AI.
Canada has pledged $2.4 billion, China has launched a $47.5 billion semiconductor fund, France has committed €109 billion, India has pledged $1.25 billion, and Saudi Arabia’s Project Transcendence represents a $100 billion initiative.
The scale of AI models is rapidly growing—training compute doubles every five months, datasets grow every eight months, and power consumption increases annually.
Despite these advancements, performance gaps are narrowing: the score difference between the top and 10th-ranked models has decreased from 11.9% to 5.4% in a year, with the top two models now separated by just 0.7%. The field is becoming increasingly competitive and crowded.
AI’s significance is also evident in major scientific awards: two Nobel Prizes have recognized contributions that led to deep learning (physics) and its application to protein folding (chemistry).
At the same time, the Turing Award has honored groundbreaking advancements in reinforcement learning.
Although AI models excel at tasks like International Mathematical Olympiad problems, they still struggle with complex reasoning. They often fail to reliably solve logic tasks reliably, even when clear, provably correct solutions exist, which limits their effectiveness in high-stakes situations where precision is crucial.
📣 Announcing the AI for Organizations Grand Challenge, a new competition for scholars to help organizations enter the era of AI. @GoogleDeepMind and @StanfordHAI invite researchers from any university worldwide to submit their boldest ideas. Learn more: https://t.co/67SBSgDIgd pic.twitter.com/BQROTjY19F
— Stanford HAI (@StanfordHAI) August 18, 2025
📢Introducing #AIIndex2025: This year's report highlights the most critical trends in AI – from shifting geopolitical landscape and rapid technological evolution, to AI’s expanding role in science and medicine, business, and public life. Read more: https://t.co/PxHhsKO9dD pic.twitter.com/GXSK1AZaHU
— Stanford HAI (@StanfordHAI) April 7, 2025
Comment Form
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with…
Brown and Caldwell, a leading environmental engineering and construction firm,…
Humboldt State University, one of four campuses within the California…
