Expanding AI Skills Through the SAS Hackathon
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be a focal point in both business and technology, yet many individuals and organizations find it challenging to harness its full potential. To address this gap, the fifth annual SAS Hackathon offers an innovative platform for people from diverse backgrounds and experience levels to enhance their AI skills. Open for registration until August 31, this event invites data scientists, developers, business analysts, and students to participate in a month-long digital challenge.
A Global Competition with Real-World Impact
The SAS Hackathon is a global event that runs from September 15 to October 10, allowing teams from around the world to collaborate and compete. Participants tackle real-world business and social challenges using the latest AI and advanced analytics tools. All submissions are evaluated by a panel of AI and analytics experts, with winners announced later in the year.
Sponsored by Microsoft and Intel, the SAS Hackathon is organized by SAS, a leader in data and AI technologies. The event provides access to cutting-edge tools and resources, enabling participants to develop innovative solutions.
Cutting-Edge Technologies for Innovation
Participants in the SAS Hackathon have access to a range of advanced technologies, including:
- SAS® Viya®, a cloud-native and cloud-agnostic data and AI platform.
- SAS Viya Workbench, a cloud-based developer environment for building AI models.
- SAS Data Maker, a secure synthetic data generator.
These tools empower teams to create robust analytical applications that can solve complex problems and improve lives.
Industry-Specific Tracks for Diverse Challenges
The SAS Hackathon includes industry-specific tracks designed to address unique challenges across various sectors. These tracks include:
- Banking
- Energy & Telecom
- Health Care & Life Sciences
- Insurance
- Public Sector
- Retail, Consumer Goods & Manufacturing
- IoT (Internet of Things) – a cross-industry track
Teams can work on projects relevant to their fields, guided by SAS experts who also serve as judges.
A New Track for Students
For university students, the SAS Hackathon has long been a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience in data and AI. This year, a new individual track has been introduced specifically for students. They can register using their academic email and participate in the Student Individual Track.
In this track, students will use Cortex, an analytics simulation game developed by SAS in collaboration with HEC Montreal. The game presents a fundraising challenge where participants must identify the most profitable donors while minimizing costs. SAS provides the dataset and software access, and students build models, submit optimized call lists, and compete on a leaderboard.
Real-World Success Stories
Past participants have created impactful solutions. For example, Team Butterflies won the 2024 SAS Hackathon with an AI-powered tool that helps detect misinformation and disinformation. Their solution enables organizations to verify data sources and ensure ethical decision-making.
The 2024 event saw record participation, with over 1,731 registrants from more than 70 countries. This led to 145 approved teams and 110 SAS mentors supporting the competition.
About SAS
SAS is a global leader in data and AI, providing software and industry-specific solutions that help organizations transform data into actionable insights. With a commitment to innovation, SAS empowers businesses to make trusted decisions through advanced analytics.
SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2024 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.
