Your Future Job, Powered by AI
+400 Points
$10000
You've probably heard two contradictory messages about the future of work: "AI is replacing entry-level jobs" and "you need experience before anyone will hire you." Both feel true, and that tension is real.
But here's what's also true: the professionals using AI tools every day are running into real gaps. These are things the tools don't do well, problems people still solve manually, and frustrations nobody has bothered to fix. Those gaps are opportunities. This Challenge asks you to find one problem and design something that actually addresses it. The best submissions won't be the most ambitious. They'll be the ones where you can tell a real person's real problem was truly understood. Get ready to wow the KPMG judges. This Challenge addresses the question:
What's one real problem in a career that you (and your teammates) are genuinely interested in, and how could AI help solve it?
This Challenge runs from April 13th through May 25th, 2026
Prizes: 1st Place: $5,000 🥇| 2nd Place: $3,000 🥈| 3rd Place: $2,000 🥉 | Please note: For team entries, prize amounts will be divided equally among team members.
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Skills you'll develop
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Problem Solving
This Challenge runs from April 13th through May 25th, 2026
Understand the Focus Phase
⏱️Time: 1- 2 Hours (during Week 2 of Challenge)
✏️Use the optional KNOtebook to record notes and questions
💼 Mentor: Get feedback from a mentor on your Big Question
🎯 Future Ready Skills: Problem Solving
See an Example
Focus Example
Watch the video to see an example of the Focus phase in a classroom. Note that you will be doing this on your own or in a small group.
Step 1: Choose a Tool
Now that you're up to speed on the problem, let's get down to business and organize what you've learned. Take your pick from the awesome tools below or use your own approach to sort through the research. If you're unfamiliar with the tools, you may want to watch the tutorials on the tool websites! Flip the cards to learn about each tool.
Optional Tools
Miro
Miro
Miro (miro.com) is an online collaborative whiteboard tool. It includes digital sticky notes, diagrams, icons, emojis, and more for you to work creatively with a team without being in the same room.
Mural
Mural
Mural (mural.com) is an online collaborative workspace used for virtual collaboration. It includes fun visual features such as sticky notes, shapes, and images.Step 2: Clarify the Issue
It's time to roll up your sleeves and piece together all the juicy findings you uncovered in the Explore section, highlighting the key bits that will help solve a specific angle of the larger issue. Whip out your handy tool of choice and let's get crackin'! Select each tab to learn how.
Step 3: Create Your Big Question
Get ready to come up with a Big Question based on your research to narrow the issue.
Help with Your Big Question
It's time to develop your Big Question! Start by creating a list of questions, then narrow it down to one. This will be the question that guides you in addressing the issue at hand. Follow these steps to create your list of questions, based on your insight statements and the specific aspect of the larger issue that you want to tackle. Select each starter to see examples.
Steps for Coming Up with Your Big Question
Step 4: Choose Your Big Question
Consider which questions allow for a variety of solutions. If they don’t, you may need to broaden them (but not too broad!). Your final Big Question should make you think of a lot of wild ideas in a brainstorm.
Student KNOtebook: Select Your Big Question
Step 5: Create a User Persona
You may have decided on the group you’d like to be the focus for your solution. To help you come up with a solution, it’s useful to have a specific person or people in mind. You can create a persona for this.
A User Persona
A user persona is an imaginary person that would fit into a focus group for your idea. Personas help us to get to know these users, create awareness and a shared opinion about who our users are, their needs, life goals, characteristics, traits, gains and pains. As you come up with a solution, you’ll find that personas will be helpful throughout all aspects of the process.
Mentor Moment: Get Feedback
Did you know that there are professionals standing by to help you? They will also be judging your final pitches, so be sure to take advantage throughout the Challenge and post your questions.
Share your brainstorming question and get feedback from a mentor or ask them a question.
Next Steps
Ready to Move On?
Do you feel prepared to move on and start answering your brainstorming question? Did you do the following? If you did, yay for you! Great work taking a big problem and narrowing it down. Flip each card to check yourself.
Insight Statements
Insight Statements
Did you come up with insight statements that helped you narrow down the issue?
Big Question
Big Question
Do you have a strong Big Question that: Brings up a lot of ideas? Makes you think about the problem in a new way? Is objective (not influenced by your personal feelings or opinions)? Is not too broad and not too narrow?User Persona
User Persona
Did you create an imaginary person, or a user persona, that helps you get to know your users?Ideation Time!
It's time to brainstorm a solution to your big question!
