The Big AI Hack
Build it. Break it. Prove it.
A three-day responsible AI hackathon led by Holistic AI, in collaboration with UCL Centre for Digital Innovation.
Build an AI prototype, test it in real-world scenarios, and demonstrate what works, what fails, and what remains unresolved.
30 October – 1 November 2026
Wilkins Building, UCL, Bloomsbury, London
What you will do
Build: Create a working prototype for a real-world problem in your chosen track.
Break: Investigate realistic failure cases, try practical fixes, and document the limits that remain within the available models, data, time and resources.
Prove: Demonstrate your prototype and support your claims with reproducible evidence: what works, what improved, and what still needs work.
Well-evidenced limitations are a useful outcome too. Each track owner will shape the brief and testing approach.
Choose your track
Healthcare & Genomics: Genomic data processing and personalised diagnostics, with attention to sensitive data, provenance and trustworthy clinical use.
AI in Education: Tutoring and learning tools designed around safety, child protection and human oversight.
Finance & Insurance: Pricing, claims and underwriting, with attention to explainability, fairness and audit evidence.
Consumer & Manufacturing: Product, supply chain and operational challenges with a sustainability focus and room to explore.
Who should apply
Everyone is welcome: students at any level, researchers, engineers, designers, founders and people working in industry or policy, with technical, research, UX or domain expertise. You can apply with an existing team or on your own. Places are limited to around 150, so we review applications to balance skills across teams.
Prizes
Significant prizes are on the table for the winning teams. We'll announce the full line-up in the coming weeks, and it's worth applying for.
How to apply
Each participant must submit an individual application on this page. One application does not register a whole team.
Teams of 3–5 are preferred. If you already have a team, use the same team name and team lead's email in each application.
Solo applicants are welcome and can request help finding a team. Team matching and track allocation are subject to confirmation.
Applications require approval. Your place is confirmed only after you receive an approval email.