The One Club for Creativity has partnered with Google to launch the first global One Club AI Creative Challenge, bringing together 128 AI creators for a series of live competitions across 16 cities.
The competition will test participants on their ability to use generative AI for creative work under time pressure, with $50,000 in prize money on offer. The global programme follows earlier editions held during The One Club’s Creative Week in May and at Google Creative House in Cannes in June.
Under the format, participants will compete in timed 10-minute sprints and receive a secret, randomly selected creative brief. They will then use generative AI tools to develop their response within the allotted time.
A jury comprising creative professionals will assess the participants on three criteria: speed, prompt mastery and creative execution. One winner from each participating city will move forward in the single-elimination tournament.
The competition will be staged across the US, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific between September and November.
For India, Mumbai will host an AI Creative Challenge event on October 27, with Leo India Mumbai serving as the host. Other Asia-Pacific events are scheduled for Tokyo on October 16 and Sydney on November 19.
The US and Canada leg begins in Los Angeles on September 3, followed by Toronto in November. Events are also planned in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Istanbul, London, Lisbon, Mexico City and São Paulo.
City winners will progress through subsequent quarterfinal and semifinal stages before the competition concludes with a global finale hosted by Google in New York on February 18, 2027.
The organisers are positioning the format as an esports-style creative competition, where the use of AI becomes part of a live spectator experience rather than remaining limited to behind-the-scenes creative production.
Kevin Swanepoel, CEO of The One Club for Creativity, said the initiative is intended to demonstrate what can emerge when human imagination is combined with AI technology. He added that the competition is focused on showcasing creative talent rather than positioning AI as a replacement for human creativity.
The challenge comes as generative AI tools become increasingly embedded across advertising and marketing workflows, including ideation, image generation, video production and campaign development.
All local events will be free to attend and open to members of the creative community as well as the general public.
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