Sebastian Steppuhn from Pforzheim won this year's National Artificial Intelligence Competition on Friday with his project “Bee ai”. The seventeen-year-old developed an AI that recognizes harmful Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) on bees. An apparatus then automatically sorts out infected bees for targeted treatment. The AI application from the student in Baden-Württemberg strengthens the health of the beehives and could help prevent the death of bees.
Nine other teams of students had qualified for the BWKI final with their project ideas and were reviewed by the jury. They competed for a healthy heart, intelligent water control or against food waste. The German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier traveled to Tübingen to meet the young talent in person. “Most admirable are the young people - girls and boys - who devote themselves to their developments with great creativity, courage and imagination, and most of them still alongside their normal school in their free time (...). It's amazing what we've seen, but especially with a view to these young people, I can say that we need not fear for the future of our country in terms of new talent,” said Steinmeier.
The motto of the competition was: ‘What freedom does climate give you?’ in reference to the 2024 Science Year of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The main sponsor of the BWKI is the Carl Zeiss Foundation. Sebastian Steppuhn, the winner of the first prize, receives 1,500 euros as well as an internship at the robotics and automation company FANUC.
For more information on all winners and the event, see the University of Tübingen Press Release (in German).