Melania Trump is encouraging students to use artificial intelligence. On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the First Lady announced the Presidential AI Challenge, a competition that urges students and educators to “create AI-based innovative solutions to community challenges.” In a video, Melania invited students in kindergarten through 12th grade to “unleash their imagination and showcase the spirit of American innovation.”
Melania suggested that she has lots of experience with AI, as the audiobook of her memoir was “narrated entirely using artificial intelligence.” In the video promoting the challenge, Melania said, “As someone who created an AI-powered audio book and championed online safety through the Take It Down Act, I’ve seen firsthand the promise of this powerful technology. Now, I pass the torch of innovation to you.”
She also emphasized that “it is important America leads the rest of the world,” so the challenge is also designed to increase “AI interest and competency” among students. “Just as America once led the world into the skies, we are poised to lead again,” she said. “This time, in the age of AI.”
Are you ready for an AI challenge?
— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 26, 2025
Visit https://t.co/PNPBv2KckS pic.twitter.com/GdRiH8tz2t
People were not exactly impressed by the concept though. Some people questioned the Trump administration’s priorities. “She wants them to lead in AI but not to eat,” one critic wrote on Reddit. Several others accused the Trump administration of trying to use children to come up with innovative ideas. “Hey kids, the adults are pretty screwed if we can’t monetize this soon. Why not come up with AI ideas for us! We’ll give you candy,” another critic wrote.
Another person added, “Translation: we need more ideas to sell in the AI space so we are going to use school children as free marketing research. The fact that they are targeting kids for this (besides the obvious reason) is gross.”
Meanwhile, some people on X praised the initiative. “I love this!” one person wrote in response to Melania’s video. “Getting the children to help solve real-world problems is such a great idea. I just wish college students could be included as well.”
According to the initiative’s website, “Student participants will complete a project that involves the study, development, or use of an AI method or tool to address community challenges, while educators will focus on creative approaches to teaching or using AI technologies in K-12 learning.”
