In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) automation for businesses, hackathons are emerging as a pivotal method to spur innovation and uncover talent within organisations. David Wright, an innovator at Kellogg Company’s global tech hub in India, shared insights into the orchestration of these impactful events during a recent discussion with CIO.
Wright recounted his experience at Toyota, where he initially felt overwhelmed by the breadth of his work. To facilitate a transformative shift in thinking, he invited business leaders to act as judges during one of the first hackathons. Their enthusiasm was palpable, with leaders expressing a desire to support all attractive ideas rather than selecting just a few winners. Wright proposed that they could signal their support through budget allocations, a move that significantly reshaped project portfolios within the company. This approach not only highlighted innovative ideas but also illuminated emerging talent across the organisation, shedding light on individuals who may not have had the opportunity to showcase their skills previously.
During a recent visit to K-C’s global tech hub in India, which took place just a month before the hackathon was scheduled, Wright voiced his desire to organise another event, even with the tight timeframe. Despite initial worries about timing constraints, the excitement generated amongst the teams resulted in an impressive 130 entries for the hackathon.
Wright expressed his astonishment at the quality of the winning entries, stating that they went beyond mere demos or prototypes; the innovations presented were fully functional applications. The integration of AI technologies allowed participants to develop robust applications that could potentially transform business practices. This trend underscores a growing recognition within the industry that hackathons serve not only as a platform for creative solutions but also as a means to embed AI capabilities into business operations effectively.
The discussion illustrates how hackathons have evolved into strategic events for organisations looking to harness the power of AI and automation. As businesses increasingly recognise the need to adapt to emerging technologies, such events highlight the potential for innovative thinking and technological development within their ranks.
Source: Noah Wire Services