The Era of Apps is Over: AI-Native OS Hackathon
Hosted by Stanford SDGC · In Partnership with NEWNAL
"The Era of Apps is Over. The Era of AI-Native OS Has Begun."
Join the first generation of builders shaping what comes after the smartphone.
The AI-Native OS Hackathon is a two-day hackathon hosted by Stanford SDGC in partnership with NEWNAL — where Stanford students design and build the future of AI-native mobile experiences.
🗓 May 9–10, 2026 (Saturday–Sunday)
📍 Shriram Center for Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering, Stanford University
📱 Build on Real Hardware
Every participant receives a Newnal AIOS Phone (Version 1) to design, test, and prototype on throughout the hackathon — no simulators, real hardware from day one.
🛤 Two Tracks, One Vision
Track 1 — Redesigning the Newnal AIOS Phone Experience Rethink what a phone looks like when AI is the foundation — not an add-on. Redesign onboarding flows, AI interfaces, UX paradigms, or hardware concepts for the AI computing era. Sustainable design and user sovereignty principles are encouraged.
Track 2 — Developing AI Agents on Newnal AIOS In the AI era, apps become agents. Build AI agent services demonstrable on the Newnal AIOS phone — ideas with real potential to become the killer AI services of tomorrow. Social impact and accessibility angles are welcome.
You may focus on one track or combine elements from both.
🏆 Prizes — $10,000 Total Pool
All submissions are judged together across both tracks.
🥇 1st Place: $5,000
🥈 2nd Place: $3,000
🥉 3rd Place: $2,000
Winning teams also receive a main-stage speaking slot at the Newnal AI-Native OS Conference — May 18, 2026.
👥 Eligibility & Team
Open to all Stanford undergraduate and graduate students
Participate solo or as a team (up to 5 members per team)
Up to 20 teams total
📦 What's Provided
Newnal AIOS Phone (yours to use throughout the event)
Development documentation
Virtual Q&A support with Newnal engineering team via Discord
Saturday lunch & Sunday refreshments
🎒 What to Bring
Laptop and charger
Stanford Student ID (required at check-in)
Curiosity and a drive to build
💬 Community & Support
Upon registration, you'll be invited to a dedicated Discord channel — the hub for team formation, technical Q&A with Newnal engineers, and documentation. Open from April 20, 2026 through the end of the event and beyond.
Join Discord channel : Join Discord Server
📅 Registration Open: April 20 – May 4, 2026 Please register with your Stanford email address (@stanford.edu) — verified against your Student ID at check-in. If you need to make changes before the deadline, please contact us via Discord or cancel your registration and re-register with updated information.
🗓 Schedule
Saturday, May 9
09:00 Check-in & device distribution
09:30 Opening session & keynote
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Hacking begins
Sunday, May 10
13:30 Check-in at Shriram Center
14:00 Team presentations
17:00 Winner announcement
Monday, May 18 — Upcoming conference (Details TBA)
Winners present their projects on the main stage
About NEWNAL Newnal is developing a next-generation AI-native operating system for mobile devices — enabling a new paradigm of deeply personalized AI agents and experiences. For more information, visit newnal.com.
About Stanford SDGC For over 20 years, the Center for Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness (SDGC) at Stanford University has engaged in research and educational programs integrating cutting-edge technologies with leadership practices for a sustainable future.