HSU AI-DRIVEN CHALLENGE 2026: From AI Knowledge to Real-World Action

18/08/2026

Challenged to tackle “Risk Screening and AI Security Mastery”, high school and university students in Ho Chi Minh City developed AI-based solutions to identify, classify, and control potentially risky commands, putting their technical knowledge to work on real-world challenges.

Proactive AI Security Problem-Solving

As AI continues to reshape learning, work, and daily life, new challenges around safety and responsible use are emerging. In response, the Faculty of Technology at Hoa Sen University (HSU) organized the HSU AI-DRIVEN CHALLENGE 2026, challenging high school and university students in Ho Chi Minh City to explore AI security through the theme “Risk Screening and AI Security Mastery”.

HSU AI-DRIVEN CHALLENGE 2026: From AI Knowledge to Real-World Action — *Overview of the competition*

The competition focused on a pressing AI security challenge: How can requests be screened and potentially harmful commands identified before they are submitted to an AI system?

Although the participating teams tackled the same challenge, they developed different approaches, ranging from input control and unsafe-prompt detection to attack identification and risk-level assessment. Furthermore, each project demonstrated how learners applied their technical knowledge to test ideas and develop solutions for real-world AI applications.

Innovative AI Solutions Built on Leading Technology Platforms

After several rigorous rounds of competition, HSU AI-DRIVEN CHALLENGE 2026 crowned its champion:

First Prize – Homelessu
Project by Mr. Nguyen Hong Dang, HSU student
The project developed a protective layer that screened and assessed requests before they reached AI systems. Testing showed that the model achieved over 99.9% accuracy on the test set, demonstrating its stable and reliable recognition performance.

Second Prize – CHEM-STEM AI
Project by Mr. Nguyen Le Hoang Minh, Nguyen Chi Thanh High School student
A “safety filter” designed to protect AI systems from potentially harmful inputs. The system could analyze incoming requests, identify potentially harmful content, and assess risk levels before allowing them to be processed by the AI.

Third Prize – AI Police
Project by Mr. Hua Huynh Kim Phu and Mr. Lu Tat Tuan Dat, HSU students
Their project focused on AI input control, with an application designed to detect and classify unsafe prompts that might indicate an attack or an attempt to bypass the system’s security safeguards.

Consolation Prize – Firewall404
Project by Mr. Trinh Hoang Tu, student from Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology, and Mr. Nguyen Tan Thang, student from the University of Science, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City
Their project developed a lightweight and fast “firewall” for AI systems, screening incoming prompts for potential attacks, malicious content, and illicit activity.

From Technical Knowledge to Real-World Solutions

At the HSU AI-DRIVEN CHALLENGE 2026, participants moved beyond studying AI as a technology and began using it to solve problems.

They tested ideas, refined solutions, and directly tackled challenges arising from real-world AI applications. Moreover, the competition offered more than a chance to showcase AI solutions. It gave them a space to strengthen their technological thinking, research, problem-solving, and product development capabilities through real-world challenges.

Additionally, guided by a strong commitment to practical application, the Faculty of Technology at HSU continues to create opportunities for students to explore emerging technologies, turn knowledge into products, and prepare for a world increasingly shaped by AI.