Mind Meets Machine Student Competition
We celebrated Academic Integrity month from 27 October to the end of November 2025. Academic integrity means committing to honesty in academic work, giving credit where we've used others' ideas and being proud of our own achievements.
Critical Thinking is the ability to independently analyse facts, data, information, and opinions to form an evaluation and engage in debate.
Creative Competition: Mind Meets Machine!
We ran a competition inviting students to make a creative submission answering the question:
Mind Meets Machine!
How can humans use Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly, and with integrity, curiosity, and critical insight.
We received many fantastic entries, which we are proud to present below. The entries were judged by Assoc. Prof. Mike Perkins, the Head of the Centre for Research & Innovation at British University Vietnam, Vietnam who said:
It was fantastic to see the effort made by the Warwick student community in the ‘Mind meets Machine competition’. It’s clear that the entrants this year have really considered the delicate balance between making thoughtful and appropriate use of technology, whilst also recognising the value of what makes us inimitably human. The winners this year covered a range of media, from songs and poems, to sketches and photography. Although many of the entrants have made use of GenAI tools, it was surprising to see how thoughtfully these had been integrated: really a true reflection of the spirit of the competition!
Winner:
Matteo Ponzano
Second place:
Krish Bengani
Runner-up:
Harish Kumar Gopalakrishnan
"A cautionary message from the upside down on the constant dependence of AI."
Runner-up:
Johanna Pechouckova
Runner-up:
Sandhya Sandhya
"This presentation expresses my vision of 'Mind Meets Machine' using a recipe metaphor. Each ingredient represents a human quality - curiosity, critical thinking, integrity, creativity, empathy - while AI acts as a spice: it can enhance the flavor but can never replace the chef. Together, they create a thoughtful, responsible blend of learning, insight, and innovation.
This afternoon, while cooking biryani (an Indian dish), I decided to check the recipe using ChatGPT. As I followed the steps and added each ingredient, I realized something fascinating - the dish was turning out even better than I imagined, a perfect blend of flavors. That's when it hit me: just like in cooking, human minds and AI can come together to create something richer and more thoughtful. And that's how I came up with the idea of using 'Mind Meets Machine' as a recipe metaphor."�
Suzan Hasanli
"I chose to express my ideas through a recipe because baking is something I love and understand deeply. Using a recipe format helped me connect the abstract ideas of responsible AI use with something practical and familiar. Baking requires care, honesty, creativity, and attention to detail; values that are also essential when working with AI.
By turning the guidelines for ethical AI use into ingredients and step-by-step instructions, I was able to highlight how curiosity, integrity, and critical insight all play a role in the 'process' of learning with AI. This format allowed me to show that responsible AI use isn't about following rigid rules but about combining the right elements thoughtfully to create something meaningful and uniquely human. I hope everyone else can also learn with my easy recipe!"
Tia Shrivastava
"I chose to present my ideas as a concert ticket for 'Mind Meets Machine' because it captures the energy and collaboration between humans and AI. Just like a live show, learning with AI is an experience - part creativity, part technology, and all about how the two interact. The ticket format allowed me to highlight key ideas as fun stats, sections, and features of the event, portraying that AI isn't the main act but a supporting performer. The human mind stays the headliner, powered by curiosity, integrity, and critical insight."
Rihan Khan
Sasitha Samarawickrama
"Creating this poster helped me understand why Artificial intelligence cannot replace humans when it comes to teaching because of various reasons such as personalised learning, creating emotional connections, increasing motivation and overall make learning more fun than the repetitive system of A.I - however that does not mean A.I should not be used because it is very useful when it comes to saving time while making summaries or testing yourself. Therefore it should be used in moderation in order to preserve academic integrity and maximising optimum learning.
Abigail Hart
Lily Yang
Oyindrila Banerjee
Syed Mohammad Arsh
Lily Wilson
Jenny Johnson-Bennett
Janet Browne
The web app I built for this competition is live.
"Welcome to Mind Meets Machine, a creative reflection on how humans and AI can think together responsibly.
In this interactive piece, empathy, imagination, context, and moral judgement remind us what remains uniquely human.
When we draft, analyse, code, or reflect with AI, our role is to stay accountable, reviewing tone, verifying data, and citing assistance.
Curiosity asks better questions. Integrity keeps us transparent. And critical insight ensures technology serves human values, not replaces them.
Bethany Hadingham
An essay on AI labour and the film 'The Wild Robot!'
The Evolution Of AI Labour And The Benefits And Detriments Of This Progression With Reference To Chris Sanders, The Wild Robot
Over the past 20 years, artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed its capabilities and uses within society, evolving from simple automation to emotional intelligence and potentially an imitation of human behaviour and creativity. These progressions reflect the increasing integration of AI into everyday life and the shifts in labour dynamics as automation takes over both basic menial physical labour and encroaches on emotional and creative labour. Chris Sanders’s children’s film The Wild Robot (2024) depicts these evolutions in the uses and applications of AI labour, where critical theory can be applied to the learning journey of the Rozzum Unit 7134 as she progresses to form her identity and become Roz. Read More...
Sarah Aktaa
"The poster presents a visual of a student facing an unsettling, digitally hazy reflection, which is a symbol of the machine's efficiency. The reflection functions as a clear warning: failing academic integrity will lead to becoming derivative, losing ownership, and compromising one's intellectual core. This visual acts as a powerful reminder to frame AI as an assistant, not a replacement, and empowers the student to prioritise honesty and intellectual integrity in their work by visually defining Integrity (truthful gaze), Curiosity (intense scrutiny), and Critical Insight (seeing past the surface)."
Lucy Anyanor
Olanrewaju Dada
Tapiwa Chingati-Phiri
Reference: Blake, W. (1997). Songs of innocence and of experience. Dover Publications. (Original work published 1794)
Myra Imran
" 'Mind Meets Machine': A Partnership for Progress
This poster represents the powerful and positive synergy between humans and Artificial Intelligence. AI is not a replacement; it is a partner. The human mind contributes essential qualities like Ethics and Curiosity - the wisdom to question, the capacity for moral judgment, and the drive for meaningful discovery. The machine contributes Data and Speed - the computational power and efficiency required to process complex information rapidly. When these two unique pieces fit together, they don't cancel each other out. Instead, they form a complete picture, demonstrating that with integrity and critical insight, humans and AI are truly Smarter Together to create a better, more responsible future."
Take a look at last year's competition entries
Last academic year, we celebrated in February 2025 and focused on taking your university skills into professional life.
The competition invited students to make a creative submission answering the question: How can academic integrity set you up for professional integrity in the workplace?
We received many fantastic entries, which we are proud to present here.
Need more information on Academic Integrity?
There are plenty of useful resources available to support with your understanding of what Academic Integrity means, and how it applies to you and your studies. Browse the Academic Integrity webpages for FAQs, key policy information, Moodle courses, help and support information, and details about AI.