Google launches Polar Peaks quest to teach kids how AI maps the human brain

What you could do with it

• A student aged 11 to 14 could step into the role of a Google researcher and scan and map neurons in a virtual brain to solve a character's memory loss mystery ¹.
• A student could practice real AI research skills like cleaning up messy data and testing whether a model is working correctly ¹.
• A teacher could use new training modules in the Google AI Educator Series to bring the quest into their classroom and tie it to existing lessons ¹.

A game where students become brain researchers

"'Polar Peaks' is the third quest in Google's AI Quests series, following earlier quests about flood forecasting and eye disease detection ¹. The program asks students aged 11 to 14 to step into the role of Google researchers and tackle a neuroscience mystery: a game character is losing their memory, and the students must scan and map the brain's neurons to figure out why .

Along the way, learners practice real steps that AI researchers take, including cleaning up messy data and testing whether a model is working correctly ¹. The experience makes clear that AI does not run itself — careful human oversight and critical thinking are needed at every stage .

Real research behind the game

The quest draws on more than ten years of work in connectomics, the science of mapping neural networks in the brain ¹. At the end of their sessions, students get to listen to two researchers who have taken part in real breakthroughs, such as the recent mapping of an entire fruit fly brain — which is the biggest brain map ever created in terms of neuron count .

Wrote Ronit Levavi Morad, senior director at Google Research, the program is designed to show students both how AI works and how to use it responsibly ¹.

Help for teachers

New training modules are being rolled out inside the Google AI Educator Series to help teachers bring the quest into their classrooms and tie it to existing lessons ¹. Modules for the first two quests are already available, while the training for "Polar Peaks" (Quest #3) will arrive next month .

The AI Quests program won a 2026 Webby Award for AI Education, Learning & Training, and was also named Best Global K–12 Learning Solution at the ETIH Innovation Awards ¹. More than 400,000 quests have been completed so far, in ten languages .

How good is it

The AI Quests program won a 2026 Webby Award for AI Education, Learning & Training ¹. It was also named Best Global K–12 Learning Solution at the ETIH Innovation Awards . Over 400,000 quests have been completed so far, available in 10 languages .

Key facts

• "Polar Peaks" targets students ages 11 to 14 and teaches AI literacy through a neuroscience-themed game
• Over 400,000 AI Quests have been completed in 10 languages

The hunt draws inspiration from the actual mapping of an entire fruit fly brain — the biggest brain map ever made based on neuron count.

• Teacher training modules for Quest #3 launch next month via the Google AI Educator Series

Sources

1. Our newest AI Quest: Mapping the human brain