AI Video Contest 2026 rewards young Mauritians for envisioning the future of Mauritius

The future of Mauritius as envisioned through the lens of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was celebrated, today at the Telecom Tower in Port Louis, as winners of the AI Video Contest 2026 were officially awarded their prizes.

Held under the theme "L’Ile Maurice de Demain: Ma Vision" (The Mauritius of Tomorrow: My Vision), the prize-giving ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Mahendra Goondea. Were also present the Chief Executive Officer of Mauritius Telecom (MT), Mr Veemal Gungadin; the Chairman of MT, Mr Sarat Dutt Lallah; the Director-General of the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Alain Gordon-Gentil; the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the MFDC, Mr Kevin Gutty; the Chairman of the MFDC, Mr Arvind Mattadeen; jury members; and finalists.

In his address on the occasion, Minister Goondea congratulated all participants and commended young Mauritians for using technology, creativity and imagination to express their ideas about the future of Mauritius. He observed that while artificial intelligence is transforming the way people study, work, communicate and create, it can also become dangerous if used irresponsibly.

Referring to the growing circulation of fake videos, manipulated photos and misleading information on social media, he warned that AI could become a harmful tool during election campaigns if used to manipulate opinions and spread false information.

The Minister stressed that technology must be accompanied by ethics, responsibility and critical thinking. “Not everything we see on the internet is true, and not everything we hear online is real,” he stated, adding that human intelligence and responsibility must progress faster than technology itself.

Speaking about the arts and culture sector, Mr Goondea highlighted concerns among artists worldwide regarding copyright protection and ownership of creative work in the era of artificial intelligence.

Minister Goondea further stated that initiatives such as the competition encourage young people to use AI constructively and responsibly while reflecting on the future of Mauritius. He also underlined that Government supports the responsible use of technology to foster innovation, creativity and freedom of expression. He also encouraged more partnerships between the private sector and the arts and culture sector to create opportunities for Mauritian youth.

The contest, launched by MT to celebrate National Day, invited citizens to use AI tools to craft compelling stories focused on four key pillars: health, innovation, community life, and the environment.

The initiative saw an enthusiastic response, drawing a total of 157 submissions. Following a rigorous screening process by a professional jury panel, 81 entries successfully met the contest criteria. Submissions were evaluated based on storytelling, creativity, and technical execution. The top 10 finalists were then put forward for a public vote, with the final scores combining both jury marks and public choices. The grand prize winner and other winners walked away with latest smartphones as prizes.

27 May 2026

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Topics: Technology, Artificial Intelligence