An Oak Harbor boy is among the top finalists in Bill Nye’s “America’s Favorite Student” contest, competing against 20,000 kids nationwide for a $20,000 prize.
OAK HARBOR, Wash. — An Oak Harbor fourth-grader who builds AI robots and sneaks into adult-level college courses is now competing against roughly 20,000 students nationwide in Bill Nye‘s “America’s Favorite Student” contest — and he needs your vote.
Jet Lai, 10, is already in the top 1% of all vote-getters in the competition, which offers a $20,000 prize and a meeting with the iconic science entertainer.
While most kids his age are scrolling social media, the Oak Harbor Elementary student is developing technology he hopes will one day help elderly people live more independently. His latest project: an AI-powered robot that could assist seniors with everyday tasks, like getting out of bed.
“Like the AI, you could ask it, ‘Help me get out of bed,’ and the robot would lift you up,” Jet said.
When he’s not dreaming up inventions, Jet plays football and baseball — and takes college-level courses through Google Skills, a platform designed for adults 18 and over. Asked how he managed to enroll, Jet grinned and admitted he used his dad’s birthday. He’s not too worried about getting caught.
Asked what makes him America’s favorite student, Jet didn’t hesitate.
“Well, I’m funny. I’m smart. And I’m pretty nice to people,” he said.
When reporter Eric Wilkinson asked if he’d be Jet’s favorite reporter, the 10-year-old gave it some thought. “Um. Yeah,” he said — earning himself a guaranteed vote.
Wilkinson also tested the limits of Jet’s tech wizardry by asking if the boy could help program his VCR. Jet’s response: “Huh? What’s a VCR?”
His father, Andrew Lai, says he fully supports his son’s passion for artificial intelligence — for practical reasons.
“I said, ‘Jet, get good with AI now,’ because he loves it, and in the future, if AI decides to turn on humanity, you’ll be the one we’re gonna call,” Andrew said.
Jet says his real motivation is simpler than world domination: he just wants to help people.
“I just think, what’s something in the world that we need and we don’t have. Then I try to figure out a way to make it.”
Voting to advance Jet to the national semifinals is open through Thursday night. Click here to vote.
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