# GDG AI HACK 2026 -- Complete Information

> A free 3-day AI hackathon organized by Google Developer Groups (GDG PoliMi and GDG Cloud Milano). Build, ship, and compete alongside 160 participants at Randstad Box in Milan, Italy.

## Event Overview

- **Event:** GDG AI HACK 2026
- **Type:** Free 3-day AI hackathon
- **Dates:** May 8-10, 2026
- **Locations:** Google Milan (Friday May 8, networking) · Randstad Box, Milan (Saturday-Sunday May 9-10, hackathon)
- **Organized by:** GDG PoliMi and GDG Cloud Milano
- **Website:** https://gdgaihack.com
- **Participants:** 160 (40 teams of 4)
- **Applications received:** 500+

GDG AI HACK is a hackathon dedicated to AI and developers: a weekend of building, breaking, and shipping with real teams, real mentors, and prizes worth losing sleep over. What started as a slightly ambitious idea turned into something nobody expected -- teams that kept building long after the event, collaborations with sponsors that actually went somewhere, and participants who went on to launch startups.

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## Challenge Tracks

### Track A: Learn Different (Braynr)
Every student learns differently. It's time the system did too. EdTech has a billion apps and almost none of them feel like they were designed by someone who actually learns differently. Braynr wants cross-disciplinary teams -- designers, data scientists, UX thinkers -- who care enough about education to build something worth keeping, not just demoing.
- Focus areas: Product Design, EdTech, Learning Science, Cross-Disciplinary

### Track B: See Beyond (Luxonis)
The world is three-dimensional. Your AI should be too. Cameras got cheap. Depth sensors got small. Edge compute got fast. Suddenly machines can see, measure, and understand physical space -- no cloud, no latency, no excuses. Luxonis builds the hardware; you figure out what it should look at.
- Focus areas: Computer Vision, Depth Sensing, Edge AI, OAK Cameras

### Track C: Cut the Cord (MSI)
What if your AI never phoned home? Every API call is a dependency. Every dependency is a point of failure, a privacy leak, and a line item on someone's invoice. The interesting question isn't how to make cloud AI faster -- it's what happens when the model lives on the machine and the internet is optional. MSI brings the hardware; you build what works without a connection.
- Focus areas: On-Device AI, Edge Computing, Privacy, Low Latency

There are also 10 side challenges in addition to the 3 main tracks. Each participant gets $5 in GCP credits ($40 per team) and free access to ElevenLabs.

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## Prizes

**Total prize pool: EUR 15K+**

### 1st Place: MSI PRO Productivity Bundle (S-Tier)
Prizes from MSI's PRO lineup. The PRO DP10 A14MG is a compact mini PC with an Intel Core i7 14th gen, 16 GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. The Modern AM242TP is a sleek touchscreen All-in-One. The PRO MP2412 and PRO MP242L are crisp productivity monitors built for long sessions.
- Items: PRO DP10 A14MG, Modern AM242TP All-in-One, PRO MP2412 Monitor, PRO MP242L Monitor

### 2nd Place: Luxonis OAK-4 D PRO (S-Tier)
Industrial-grade standalone spatial AI camera running Luxonis OS on a 6-core ARM CPU with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. Features a 48 MP IMX586 RGB sensor, stereo depth up to 12 m, 52 TOPS neural compute, IP67 rating, and Gorilla Glass front -- all in an aluminum body.
- Specs: 52 TOPS, 48 MP RGB, Stereo Depth, 8 GB RAM, IP67, USB3 + PoE

### 3rd Place: Corsair TC100 RELAXED (B-Tier)
Racing-inspired gaming chair with wider seat, adjustable lumbar and neck pillows, and 160-degree recline. Built on a steel frame with leatherette upholstery for lasting comfort.
- Specs: Leatherette, 160-degree Recline, 2D Armrests, Lumbar Support, Steel Frame

### Best Overall: Corsair/Elgato Creator & Gaming Bundle (A-Tier)
The ultimate creator and gaming bundle: a premium mechanical keyboard, ultra-light wireless mouse, studio-grade microphone, and programmable control deck.
- Contents: K70 Core TKL, Sabre V2 Pro, Wave Neo, Stream Deck Neo

### Every Team Receives: M5Stack IoT & Edge AI Kit (B-Tier)
Each team gets a Core2 v1.1 touchscreen controller for voice and interactive AI, an AtomS3R-CAM with M12 lens for vision and edge ML, plus six Grove-compatible sensor modules: ENV III environmental sensor, PIR motion detector, ToF ranging unit, RGB LED, dual button, and light sensor.
- Contents: Core2 v1.1, AtomS3R-CAM M12, ENV III, PIR Motion, ToF Range, RGB LED

### ElevenLabs Voice AI Subscriptions (A-Tier)
ElevenLabs is powering voice AI across the hackathon with Creator, Pro, and Scale tier subscriptions for participants and top teams. Plus, a Voice AI Side Challenge -- a cross-track challenge focused on creative voice AI applications.
- Contents: Creator Tier, Pro Tier, Scale Tier, Voice AI Side Challenge

### Nord Security Privacy & AI Bundle (B-Tier)
A privacy and AI power pack: 1-year subscriptions to NordVPN, NordPass, and Incogni, free data on Saily, plus access and credit for nexos.ai -- the AI inference platform.
- Contents: NordVPN 1yr, NordPass 1yr, Incogni 1yr, Saily, nexos.ai

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## Full Agenda

### Selection Phase

| Date | Event | Description |
|------|-------|-------------|
| Mar 2, 2026 | Applications Open | Submit your application to join GDG AI HACK 2026. |
| Apr 17, 2026 | Applications Close | Last chance to submit your application. |
| Rolling | Results | Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. You will know no later than end of April. |

### GDG AI HACK Weekend

| Date | Event | Description |
|------|-------|-------------|
| May 8, 2026 | Networking & Welcome at Google Milan | Welcome drinks at Google Milan (Via Federico Confalonieri 4, 20124 Milano MI), meet your fellow hackers, and set the stage. |
| May 9, 2026 | Kickoff & Hacking at Randstad Box | Challenge reveal at Randstad Box (Via S. Vigilio 5, 20142 Milano MI), teams lock in, and the building starts. |
| May 10, 2026 | Submissions & Awards | Final demos, judging, and the awards ceremony. |

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## How to Apply

- **Applications open:** March 2, 2026
- **Applications close:** April 17, 2026
- **Apply at:** https://gdgaihack.com (follow the "Apply" button on the website)
- Solo applications are welcome; teams of up to 4 members
- Rolling results -- selected participants are notified on a rolling basis, no later than end of April

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## Practical Information

- **Cost:** Completely free. Meals and snacks are included during the hackathon weekend.
- **Who can apply:** Developers, students, designers, and AI enthusiasts of all experience levels.
- **Accommodation:** Not provided, but the venue is open 24 hours during the hackathon for those who want to work through the night.
- **Judging criteria:** Innovation, technical implementation, real-world impact, and presentation quality. More details shared with selected participants.
- **Code of Conduct:** All participants must follow the Code of Conduct, which promotes a welcoming, inclusive, and harassment-free environment for everyone.
- **Getting there:** Friday networking at Google Milan (Via Federico Confalonieri 4). Saturday-Sunday hackathon at Randstad Box (Via S. Vigilio 5), Milan. Both venues are accessible by public transit. Detailed directions will be sent to selected participants.

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## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can we know the challenge beforehand?**
A: No. We reveal it at the kickoff.

**Q: Can I participate even if I don't have a team?**
A: Absolutely. Apply solo -- if you get selected, we'll help you find your people before the event.

**Q: How many spots are there?**
A: 160 (40 teams of 4).

**Q: Do I need to bring anything specific?**
A: Laptop, charger, any adapters. If you want: pillow/sleep mask for power naps.

**Q: Is there something before the hackathon?**
A: May 8, welcome drinks at Google Milan. Optional, but a good excuse to meet your future teammates before the chaos starts.

**Q: How are the results communicated?**
A: We review applications on a rolling basis and communicate outcomes as we go. In any case, you'll know no later than end of April. Tip: check your inbox (and spam, just in case).

**Q: Is a pre-existing project required?**
A: No. But a portfolio -- even just repos and side projects -- helps us understand what you can actually do.

**Q: Are meals included?**
A: Covered. Meals and snacks throughout -- one less thing to worry about while you're in the zone.

**Q: Is the event free?**
A: Yes! GDG AI HACK 2026 is completely free to attend. Meals are included during the hackathon weekend.

**Q: Who can participate?**
A: The hackathon is open to developers, students, designers, and AI enthusiasts of all experience levels. You can apply as an individual or as a team.

**Q: What are the judging criteria?**
A: Projects are evaluated on innovation, technical implementation, real-world impact, and presentation quality. More details will be shared with selected participants.

**Q: Where is the venue and how do I get there?**
A: Friday networking is at Google Milan (Via Federico Confalonieri 4). Saturday-Sunday hackathon is at Randstad Box (Via S. Vigilio 5) in Milan. Both venues are accessible by public transit. Detailed directions will be sent to selected participants.

**Q: Is accommodation provided?**
A: Accommodation is not provided, but the venue is open 24 hours during the hackathon for those who want to work through the night.

**Q: Is there a Code of Conduct?**
A: Yes. All participants must follow our Code of Conduct, which promotes a welcoming, inclusive, and harassment-free environment for everyone.

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## Sponsors & Partners

### Platinum Sponsors
- **MSI** -- https://it.msi.com
- **Braynr** -- https://braynr.ai
- **Luxonis** -- https://luxonis.com
- **Google** -- https://google.com

### Silver Sponsors
- **GitHub Education** -- https://github.com/education
- **Corsair** -- https://www.corsair.com
- **Elgato** -- https://www.elgato.com
- **ENHANCE** -- https://enhanceuniversity.eu

### Community Partners
- **Randstad Box** -- https://randstadbox.it (Venue partner)
- **ElevenLabs** -- https://elevenlabs.io
- **NordVPN** -- https://nordvpn.com
- **M5Stack** -- https://m5stack.com
- **Galvanina** -- https://galvanina.com
- **nexos.ai** -- https://nexos.ai
- **NordPass** -- https://nordpass.com
- **ZIG Italia** -- https://www.zigitalia.it
- **Incogni** -- https://incogni.com
- **Saily** -- https://saily.com

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## Organizing Team

### Leadership
- **Mouadh Ltifi** -- Lead, GDG PoliMi
- **Ginevra Carradori** -- Lead, GDG PoliMi
- **Pablo Giaccaglia** -- Lead, GDG PoliMi
- **Davide Tresoldi** -- Organiser, GDG Cloud Milano
- **Pierantonio Mauro** -- Lead, GDG PoliMi
- **Nikita Litovchenko** -- Lead, GDG PoliMi
- **Marco Del Togno** -- Lead, GDG PoliMi

### Team Members
- Manuel Ianieri
- Ashley Andrea Squarcio
- Daniele Mauro
- Federico Grandi
- Kevin Abate
- Luca Stefanini
- Marcello Martini
- Michele Marrone
- Roberto Benatuil Valera
- Ruslan Kostin
- Subhadip Banerjee

The team consists of students, developers, and community organizers from GDG PoliMi and GDG Cloud Milano.

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## Additional Pages

- **Apply:** https://gdgaihack.com/apply.html -- Application form, key dates, and what we look for
- **Event Guide:** https://gdgaihack.com/info.html -- Start here: hub page linking to all event information
- **Venue:** https://gdgaihack.com/venue.html -- Venue details and transport directions
- **Participant Guide:** https://gdgaihack.com/guide.html -- Food, rest areas, what to bring, and tips
- **Schedule:** https://gdgaihack.com/schedule.html -- Full 3-day event schedule (May 8-10)
- **Resources:** https://gdgaihack.com/resources.html -- Developer resources hub (APIs, tools, sponsor credits)
  - Google Cloud & Gemini: https://gdgaihack.com/resources/google.html
  - ElevenLabs Voice AI: https://gdgaihack.com/resources/elevenlabs.html
  - Luxonis Spatial AI: https://gdgaihack.com/resources/luxonis.html
  - Braynr EdTech: https://gdgaihack.com/resources/braynr.html
- **Challenges:** https://gdgaihack.com/challenges.html -- Challenge format, track sponsors, judging criteria, and evaluation process
- **Prizes:** https://gdgaihack.com/prizes.html -- Complete prize catalog with specs and details
- **Sponsors:** https://gdgaihack.com/sponsors.html -- Sponsors and community partners
- **Code of Conduct:** https://gdgaihack.com/code-of-conduct.html -- Community guidelines and reporting

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## Contact

- **General questions:** hack@gdgpolimi.com
- **Sponsorship inquiries:** sponsors@gdgpolimi.com
- **Website:** https://gdgaihack.com