Inside North Carolina's First AI Solve-a-Thon
In 2025, North Carolina held its first-ever AI Solve-a-Thon: a statewide student competition where teams spent months identifying real problems in their communities and building actual AI-powered solutions. Kinwise sat down with the people who made it happen: the NC DPI leaders who designed it, the student teams who won it, and the education leader who helped shape AI's role in North Carolina schools.
A five-episode podcast series from Kinwise
EPISODE 1 · NC's AI Solve-a-Thon Proved Students Are Ready. Are We?
Featuring Vera Cubero and Matthew Mayo, NC DPI
The architects of the Solve-a-Thon share how the competition came to life and what students proved when given real problems to solve with AI.
Featuring Satviki, Anwita, and coach Nina Darnell
— Cox Mill High School, Cabarrus County
First-place winners built NC Connect Link to help people across NC find jobs, housing, food, healthcare, and legal aid in one place.
EPISODE 2 · Student-Built, Community-Tested: The AI App Connecting North Carolinians to Critical Resources
EPISODE 3 · We Put In the Work; The Byrd Brains on Solving Homelessness with AI
Featuring Tremaine, Demarcus, Christopher, Camille, and coach Stefany VanScyoc
— Douglas Byrd High School and Pine Forest High School
Third-place winners built the Jade Book to help unhoused residents in Cumberland County find critical resources.