Introductory Session | AI For Impact APAC Hackathon 2024 by Google Cloud

Introduction

Hello and welcome to the introductory session for the AI for Impact Hackathon, presented by Google Cloud and powered by Hack Skill. I'm Usma, your host, and today we are excited to embark on a journey where AI is leveraged to address pressing social challenges, especially in the APAC region.

What is the Hackathon About?

The AI for Impact Hackathon is an opportunity to utilize the power of AI to tackle significant social issues affecting the APAC region. We welcome developers, freelancers, and IT practitioners from the area to join us in making a real difference. With advancements in AI technologies, particularly from Google Cloud like Gemini, Vortex AI, and Gemini Code Assist, participants can develop innovative solutions that enhance healthcare, education, sustainability, and accessibility in technology.

Event Timeline and Registration

We are currently in the phase of registration and idea submission. Here are the key steps to participate:

Register: Start by registering yourself.
Form a Team: Assemble a team of up to four members.
Submit Your Idea: You must submit your project idea by November 17th.

At the end of November, we will announce the shortlisted teams that will progress to the prototype phase, concluding with a grand finale in the later half of December.

Rewards for Participants

In addition to the chance to create an impact, participants will be eligible for fantastic rewards:

Cash Prizes: A prize pool of $ 20,000 is available.
Mentorship: Top teams will receive mentorship from the Google for Startups team.
Certificates: All teams and valid idea submissions will receive certificates of recognition.
Presentation Opportunity: Winners may also pitch their solutions at a Google event.

Participants can choose from various themes ranging from healthcare to community empowerment and education, or they may submit ideas under the open innovation category.

Special Guest Insight

In today’s session, we have Anit Nishant, a Customer Engineer at Google Cloud, who has extensive experience in designing and implementing cloud-based solutions. He will share valuable insights on how to leverage Google Cloud's tools to create impactful solutions. After the presentation, there will be a Q&A session, so please feel free to ask your questions in the chat during his talk.

Anit opens by highlighting the transformative advancements in generative AI over the past few years and how Google has been an integral part of this evolution. He illustrates how commonly used applications, like Google Translate and Google Photos, tap into AI, showcasing the potential for these technologies to foster innovative solutions.

Anit emphasizes the importance of using Google Cloud’s services—such as pre-trained models and customizable infrastructure—to build ML models tailored to participants' unique data needs. He focuses on tools like Gemini and Vortex AI, which can be employed for various social impact projects.

Q&A Session Highlights

Following Anit’s presentation, several questions were addressed regarding the hackathon and the use of Google’s AI tools:

Which Google Cloud tools can we use during the hackathon? Participants can utilize all related Google Cloud AI tools, including Gemini and Vortex AI.
What are best practices for using Vortex AI? Ensure proper authentication, limit user access to necessary resources, and deploy applications securely.
Is the hackathon online or in-person? The entire hackathon is hosted online, making it accessible for anyone in the APAC region.
Can we submit ideas without a prototype? Yes, you can submit an idea even without a prototype and develop it later.
Are participants given access to all Google Cloud tools? Participants will receive access to Google Cloud accounts, including various AI tools.

We encourage all participants to reach out for further support either through emails or the hackathon’s dedicated communication channels. Best of luck on your hackathon journey and we look forward to seeing the amazing solutions you create!

Keywords

AI for Impact Hackathon
Google Cloud
Vortex AI
Gemini
Social Challenges
APAC Region
Mentorship
Cash Prizes
Prototype Development

FAQ

What is the AI for Impact Hackathon?
The AI for Impact Hackathon is a collaborative event aimed at using AI to address social challenges in the APAC region.

Who can participate?
The hackathon is open to developers, freelancers, and IT practitioners based in the APAC region.

When is the registration deadline?
The deadline for registrations and idea submissions is November 17th.

Can teams submit ideas without prototypes?
Yes, teams can submit ideas at the early stage without needing a completed prototype.

What tools will be available to participants?
Participants will be able to use a range of Google Cloud AI tools including Gemini and Vortex AI.

Is the hackathon online or offline?
The event will be conducted entirely online.