AI Hackathon at AUCA!

August 8, 2023

From August 4th to 6th, the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) campus witnessed an extraordinary event. The first-ever hackathon on the theme of Generative AI in Kyrgyzstan. This three-day event brought together numerous participants who worked tirelessly to generate their first AI products while providing them with a platform with respective guest speakers, mentors, and thrilling competitions.

The hackathon aimed to explore the full potential of Generative AI, a branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on creating models capable of generating new unique content based on the capabilities of AI, from simple text generation to chatbots capable of teaching numerous languages. Hackathon participants from diverse backgrounds and skill sets flocked to the AUCA campus with their creative minds ready to tackle the challenges ahead. The event attracted students, professionals, and enthusiasts alike who were eager to learn more about Generative AI and put their skills to the test.

Nurbek Akparaliev, the initiator of the hackathon, shared the event's primary purpose: "The goal of our event is to learn how to use Genitive AI effectively and gradually implement them in future projects."

To kick off the hackathon, participants divided into groups based on shared interests in AI development and pitched their projects individually. Several renowned guest speakers shared their expertise on AI and its implications for Kyrgyz society. Tilek Eshenaliev, founder and CEO of MashinaKG, presented how the Mashina KG team implemented AI in their products. Tilek also added words of gratitude to AUCA faculty and organization team, - "I highly appreciate AUCA's contribution to the development of Data Science, in particular, the support of innovative projects in the field of AI; I have been looking for offline IT courses for a long time and found them here at AUCA, after which the direction of my business only went up."

Over three intense days, participants worked diligently on their projects. Each group was assigned a mentor who was crucial in guiding participants throughout the hackathon by providing technical advice, brainstorming sessions, and helping troubleshoot any challenges during development.

On the final day, participants pitched their projects to a panel of judges. Each team presented its artificial intelligence product, demonstrating its capabilities and potential target customers. The presentations were met with awe and admiration as the audience witnessed the remarkable outcomes of their hard work. After careful deliberation, the judges announced the winners. Three groups stood out for their innovative ideas and uniqueness:

3rd Place - Ctrl + Alt + Elite Team
2nd Place - ALGA AI Team
1st Place - Agro AI Team

The hackathon concluded with an award ceremony where participants were recognized for their dedication and creativity and were awarded cash prizes and certificates. Ahror Iminov, founder of "OGOGO Group" and hackathon judge shared his expression after the ceremony - "Today I saw the progressive youth of our country. I hope that each of them will continue to develop their abilities in the field of AI and, of course, thank AUCA for focusing on our youth and supporting such initiatives."

The first Hackathon on Generative AI at AUCA Campus provided a platform for participants to explore the exciting world of Generative AI while fostering collaboration and innovation. With such events becoming more prevalent, it is evident that Generative AI has immense potential to revolutionize various industries shortly.

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