Dunedin’s AI Hackathon revisited

In preparation for the event, we reached out to local companies to secure mentors and expert speakers. We are extremely grateful for the enthusiasm and support we were met with. We learned a lot about the tech sector in Dunedin and were even invited to office tours of some of the companies. The enthusiasm from students was really encouraging too and the Otago School of Computing kindly offered to subsidise 25 of the student tickets. After going to a few lectures to promote the event and posting about it on our social media platforms, we managed to sell out of the subsidised tickets in two days and sell all our tickets before the event.

The event kicked off on Saturday, buzzing with enthusiasm. Teams quickly formed, eager to dive into their projects, and it was clear that everyone was ready to start hacking. The first day was packed with valuable insights from our speakers, who shared their expertise on problem-solving and key considerations when working with AI from their unique perspectives.

Our speakers delivered insightful talks on topics such as the legality of AI, how to validate an idea, and the stages of team formation—forming, storming, and norming. We also hosted an AI panel featuring lecturers specialising in AI, followed by a Q&A session with a chief executive of a local tech company. Additionally, there was an engaging talk on the application of computer vision in ecology.

Sunday was just as intense, with teams racing against the clock to perfect their pitches by 5 pm. The quality of the pitches was hugely impressive, with most focusing on protecting our waterways. Two projects centred on the coastline, two on rivers, and one on emissions. Several teams even managed to present working prototypes, which was thrilling to see. The weekend was filled with inspiration, learning, and a strong sense of camaraderie among the teams.

We wrapped up the challenging yet fun weekend with smiles, hugs, and a celebratory pint!

By Maria Sokolova