Palestinian teens showcase AI 'Agribot'
Palestinian participants Razan Shawar, Jehad Abudayyah, and Mustafa Assi pose with their robot design at the World Robot Olympiad in Singapore. Photo: AFP
Palestinian student Razan Shawar endured a 24-hour journey to Singapore to display her team's AI-powered invention at the World Robot Olympiad, saying innovation rather than war should shape global perceptions of her homeland.
The 15-year-old from Ramallah said she dreams of creating "something big" that shows the world what young Palestinians can achieve. The delegation travelled from the Israeli-occupied West Bank via Jordan and Dubai.
The three-day event drew more than 1,500 competitors from over 90 countries and territories. The tournament seeks to inspire young people to develop technological solutions for some of the world's most pressing challenges.
Malaysia dominated the competition, securing roughly a third of the medals across categories, according to an AFP tally, while Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Canada and the Philippines were among the first-place finishers.
The Palestinian students did not win a medal, yet they emphasised that representing their nation on the global stage mattered most. Palestinian teams have competed at the Olympiad since 2014, though the Israel-Hamas war prevented participation in the 2023 edition in Panama.
Since then, delegations have come solely from the West Bank, with no representation from the Gaza Strip. This year's group competed in the Future Innovators senior category with the "Agribot", a robot using AI and sensors to measure key soil conditions, including moisture, acidity and nutrient levels. Its mechanical arm provides precise readings that could help farmers improve yields and reduce waste.
Razan said the team hopes to eventually make the device accessible to farmers who still rely heavily on traditional practices. Team member Jehad Abudayyeh said agriculture remains central to Palestinian life, expressing pride that their project supports a sector so vital to their communities.
Another teammate, Mustafa Ali, hopes to become an IT engineer and dreams of a safer environment where technology can flourish. Razan said they want the world to recognise Palestinian talent beyond conflict, stressing that the project reflects the determination of students who aim to excel and show what Palestinians can accomplish.