Frequently Asked Questions, Rules and Resources
General Questions
Q: Who is eligible to enter?
A: The competition is open to all primary and secondary school students in the Greater Bay Area, including Hong Kong and Macau.
Q: Is there a fee to enter the competition?
A: No, participation is completely free.
Q: What are the competition categories?
A: Participants will compete in one of three categories based on their academic year. The ages listed are a general guide.
- Primary: P1 - P6 (Ages 6-12)
- Secondary Junior: S1 - S3 (Ages 12-15)
- Secondary Senior: S4 - S6 (Ages 15-18)
Q: How do I register for the free AI workshops?
A: There are 100 spots available in our free AI workshops. These are open to all registered participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Once you have created your competition account, you can sign up for an available workshop session via your Participant Hub. Each participant may only enroll in one workshop.
Q: Who can I contact if I have more questions?
A: If you have a question that is not answered here, please feel free to email us at aicompetition@preface.ai and Preface team will be happy to assist you.
Submissions & AI Tools
Q: What do I need to submit?
A: Your full submission includes three main parts: an AI-generated art piece, a short story (100-300 words), and a one-minute pitch (video). You can also submit "My AI Journey Log" to earn bonus points.
Q: What is the "My AI Journey Log"?
A: It is a document where you track your creative process. It is not mandatory, but submitting a completed log will earn you bonus points from the judges. In the log, you will share:
- Your initial brainstorming and first interactions with AI tools.
- The development of your story and artwork, including the prompts you used.
- Your process for creating the final pitch and your reflections on using AI.
Q: Are there deadlines for the AI Journey Log checkpoints?
A: We have provided suggested deadlines for each checkpoint to help you stay on track. However, these are just guides. You will receive full bonus points as long as your complete log is submitted by the final competition deadline of December 31, 2025.
Q: What AI tools can I use?
A: You are encouraged to use any AI tools you are comfortable with. If you're looking for a place to start, here are some popular and free options:
For Text & Ideas (Your Story & Brainstorming):
- Poe, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot
For Image Generation (Your Artwork):
- Nano Banana, Canva AI, DALL-E 3, and Midjourney
For Video & Presentations (Your Pitch):
- Canva, CapCut
Q: Do you have any tips for writing good prompts?
A: Absolutely! The key to great AI results is a great prompt. Try these tips:
- Be Specific: Instead of "a futuristic car," try "a sleek, solar-powered flying sports car, hovering over a neon-lit city at night, photorealistic."
- Include Style and Mood: Add words like "in the style of a comic book," "impressionist painting," "cinematic lighting," or "a cheerful and optimistic mood."
- Iterate and Refine: Your first result might not be perfect. Try changing a few words in your prompt and see how it changes the output. Your AI Journey Log is the perfect place to document these experiments!
Official Competition Rules
1. Eligibility
1.1. The Competition is open to all students currently enrolled in primary (P1-P6) or secondary (S1-S6) school in the Greater Bay Area, including Hong Kong and Macau.
1.2. Participants must enter the category that corresponds to their academic year as of the competition start date (November 3, 2025).
2. Submission Requirements
2.1. All submissions must be the original work of the participant. While the use of AI tools is required, the core concept and creative direction must be driven by the participant.
2.2. Submissions must adhere to the specified file formats and size limits outlined on the Submission Page.
2.3. All submissions must be in English, Traditional Chinese, or Simplified Chinese.
2.4. Content must be appropriate for all ages. Any submission deemed offensive, discriminatory, or containing inappropriate material will be disqualified.
3. Judging and Voting
3.1. A panel of judges selected by Manulife and Preface will evaluate all eligible entries based on the official Judging Criteria.
3.2. The judges' decisions are final and binding.
3.3. The "Community Favourite Award" will be determined by public online voting. Each person may only cast one vote per category. Any attempts to manipulate the voting process will result in disqualification of the votes and/or the entry.
4. Intellectual Property
4.1. Participants retain ownership of their original concepts.
4.2. By entering the competition, participants grant Manulife and Preface a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and display their submitted work (art, story, and video) for promotional purposes related to this competition and future initiatives, with credit given to the participant.
5. Disqualification
5.1. The organizers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these rules or is found to have engaged in any form of academic dishonesty or unfair practice.
6. General Conditions
6.1. The organizers reserve the right to amend the rules, prizes, and key dates at their discretion. Any changes will be announced on the competition website.
6.2. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges.