Separately, building on the program’s longstanding emphasis on mentorship, entrepreneurship, and student empowerment, Emma Grede, Founder, Serial Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author and Host of Aspire with Emma Grede Podcast, is stepping back into her role as Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Ambassador. Grede brings her trailblazing energy to champion youth-led solutions, inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, and showcase how promising student ideas can grow beyond the classroom.
From skill-building to mentorship to taking the strongest ideas further, Samsung is creating a clear runway for students to move from learning to doing to leading, while changing their communities in the process.
New Research Reveals Students Are Already Using AI, But Are Eager to Learn What They Can Do with It.
Alongside these broader program enhancements, Samsung is advancing its commitment to AI education through new research and resources designed to help students and educators navigate emerging technology.
These efforts come as students are adopting AI faster than formal education is keeping pace. To better understand what students need, Samsung commissioned new research examining middle and high school students’ experiences with and perspectives on emerging technology. The findings point to a clear gap between students’ widespread use of AI and their access to structured education that can help them use it thoughtfully and effectively.
The survey reveals that 95% of U.S. high school students have used AI, demonstrating just how quickly the technology has become part of students’ lives. One in two students say that they would be more interested in learning about or using AI if they saw it make a meaningful difference for people and communities.
Select Key Findings:
- Most students are using AI, yet access to structured education has not caught up with adoption. 95% of U.S. high school students have used AI, but just 16% say their school provides classes or lessons on how to use it.
- Students look to teachers for AI guidance but report a clear training gap in schools. Despite high interest in learning how to navigate artificial intelligence, 68% of students report that their school offers no classes or formal instruction on using AI. Consequently, students grade teacher AI capabilities behind their own—26% give their teachers a D or F grade, underscoring a strong demand for enhanced educator support and classroom training resources.
- Positive engagement is driven by real-world impact More than half of students (51%) say they would be more interested in learning about or using AI if they saw it making a meaningful difference for people or communities.
- While AI aids problem-solving, students worry about over-dependency and losing critical skills: 69% of students say AI helps them solve problems they would otherwise struggle with, and 65% say it helps them understand subjects more deeply. However, 63% worry about becoming overly dependent on AI, and 56% fear it could replace their critical thinking skills.
- Students want to build practical skills like writing, technical capability, and critical thinking through AI. Nearly one in three students say they want to use AI to develop writing and communication skills, while 30% of students want to focus on using AI to develop technical prowess, digital skills, and help strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving.
“Some of the best ideas start with young people looking at a problem in their own community and asking how they can make it better,” said Cordell Hull, Executive Vice President and Head of U.S. Public Affairs at Samsung Electronics America of Samsung Electronics America. “As AI becomes a bigger part of their lives, we want students to have the skills and confidence to use it as a tool to reimagine how problems can be solved. Solve for Tomorrow brings together students, teachers, mentors and entrepreneurs to turn that curiosity into action and give young people a real opportunity to see what they’re capable of building.”
Expanding Access to AI Learning with the Mark Cuban Foundation
This year, Samsung is introducing new classroom resources developed with the Mark Cuban Foundation, giving teachers practical tools to help students explore AI through hands-on problem solving rather than simply learning about the technology in the abstract. The curriculum, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow: AI Foundations will complement Solve for Tomorrow’s longstanding focus on STEM, design thinking and community impact, helping students develop the technical skills, judgment, and creative thinking to use AI effectively and responsibly.
Over the next five years, the company is committing to reach 100,000 teachers with free AI curriculum resources, practical training and classroom support alongside collaborators including DonorsChoose, First Book and Mark Cuban Foundation. Participating educators will have additional access to the Samsung Teacher Academy, offering free professional development across AI, STEM, design thinking, entrepreneurship, and storytelling.
Emma Grede Returns to Champion the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Returning for her second year as a Solve for Tomorrow Ambassador, Emma Grede will mentor student teams, participate in programming, and continue to champion youth entrepreneurship and leadership, reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to giving young people the confidence, guidance, and opportunities to bring their ideas to life.
“The most exciting thing about this generation is that they are already tech-savvy and have the creativity and ambition to solve real problems in their communities,” said Grede. “The next step is giving them the confidence, mentorship and opportunities to turn their ideas into something real. That is what I love about Solve for Tomorrow: it shows young people that they do not have to wait to become entrepreneurs, innovators or leaders. They can start solving problems in their communities right now.”
Select Solve for Tomorrow teams will also gain access to mentors, entrepreneurs and experts who can help students strengthen their ideas, understand the fundamentals of building and scaling a solution and explore how a prototype developed for one community could potentially reach many more.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Is Now Powered by MIT Solve
MIT Solve, which provides social impact and entrepreneurship services, connecting startups with funding and resources to address global challenges, is now playing an integral part in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. With the help of their infrastructure and innovative approach to mentorship, the organization will aid in the key components of this year’s competition, from reviewing applications to identifying winning solutions.
“At MIT Solve, we believe that young people possess incredible ingenuity and are uniquely positioned to address the complex challenges facing their communities today,” said Hala Hanna, Executive Director of MIT Solve. “In working with Samsung on their Solve for Tomorrow initiative, our goal is to help students take their ideas as far as possible, empowering the next generation of problem solvers.”
Calling All Problem Solvers: Competition Key Dates & How to Apply
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is open to U.S. public middle and high school students in grades 6-12. Teachers can enter on behalf of their classrooms and help students develop a STEM-based solution to a challenge in their community.
Key dates for the 2026–2027 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition include:
- November 23, 2026: Applications due
- January 20, 2027: Promising Innovators and semi-finalists announced
- March 18, 2027: National finalists announced
- April 2027: Final event and live winner announcement
This year’s competition will recognize one national winner, who will receive up to $50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom resources, alongside Community Choice, Employee Choice, and the new AI Impact Award.
Participating educators will also have access to Samsung’s Teacher Academy, offering free professional development and resources designed to support STEM learning, including AI, design thinking, entrepreneurship, and storytelling.
To learn more about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, now powered by MIT Solve, access free educator resources, or apply for the competition, visit samsung.com/solvefortomorrow.
*Key program dates for 2026-2027 are subject to change.
