Hong Kong vs. New York AI Hackathon: Solve AI Agent Collusion in Financial Systems
Sign up here to join the Hong Kong hub for this global online hackathon.
Dates:
[Online] October 23–25, 2026 (Friday to Sunday)
[In-Person Hub] October 24-25, 2026 (Saturday to Sunday)
Format: Hybrid. Online global hackathon 23rd-25th plus In-Person Hub on 24th-25th (AI Safety Hong Kong Hub in Central, HK)
Venue sponsor: Le Bureau, 14/F, Universal Trade Centre, 3-5A Arbuthnot Rd, Central, HK
Global Link: Apart Research Sprint
As autonomous AI agents take over high-frequency trading, market-making, and algorithmic execution, a quiet systemic risk is emerging: algorithmic collusion.
To tackle this frontier safety question, AI Safety Hong Kong is partnering with Apart Research to host an in-person hub for the upcoming AI Collusion Research Sprint.
And this time, we are introducing a trans-Pacific rivalry: Hong Kong vs. New York.
Two of the world’s leading financial capitals. Two intense hubs of technical, quant, and AI talent. In-person hubs in each city on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th.
Over 48 hours, both hubs will go head-to-head building evaluation benchmarks, theoretical models, and practical defenses against multi-agent financial collusion.
Who we're looking for: Quants | ML engineers | AI Researchers | Software Engineers | Cybersecurity | Both Students and Professionals. No AI safety background required.
The Prize: The Apart Fellowship Fast-Track
There is a cash prize pool (US$2,000), but the true prize is entry into the Apart Fellowship—a highly selective, 6-month research fellowship designed as a launchpad for technical talent into frontier AI safety research.
Fellows receive:
Compute grants
Direct mentorship from leading ML / AI alignment experts
Pathway to publication
Past Apart Fellows have gone on to:
Join orgs like Anthropic and METR.
Spin out and launch their own high-impact ventures, including Geodesic and Asymmetric Security.
Sprint participants don’t just compete for a one-weekend milestone; you compete to build a serious, sustained research agenda.
Special Announcement for the Hong Kong Hub
We have secured an exclusive pathway for our local community: The top-performing team from the Hong Kong in-person hub is guaranteed entry into the Apart Fellowship. In addition, any Hong Kong team that places among the global prize-winning teams will receive an invitation.
How to Sign Up & Reserve Your Spot
In-person seats at the Hong Kong hub are limited.
Sign up to the hackathon via the official Apart Sprint page: apartresearch.com/sprints/ai-collusion-research-sprint-2026-10-23-to-2026-10-25
Sign up to be based at the Hong Kong jam site: this Luma page.
Keep an eye on your inbox for local venue logistics, schedule briefings, and materials.
Let’s show New York what Hong Kong’s technical and financial ecosystem can do. JOIN TEAM HONG KONG!