The Applied AI Company (AAICO), a leading AI firm based in Abu Dhabi backed by G42 joined forces with Decoding Data Science (DDS), the largest UAE-based Data Science and AI Community, to unveil the AAICO February 2024 Hackathon — Voice Stream Analysis: Control or Broadcast. The hackathon was officially announced on Thursday, January 18, 2024, during the DDS AI Monthly Community Meetup held at DIFC Fintech Hive, Dubai, UAE.

The AAICO February 2024 Hackathon aimed to challenge AI and data science students, professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. A prize pool of Dh20,000 ($5,450) was for grabs, with the best-performing teams having the opportunity to interview for internships and employment at AAICO.

 

The hackathon was conducted remotely, allowing participants from any part of the world to engage. Teams were challenged to develop an innovative Python solution capable of detecting specific commands in a one-minute audio stream, with a focus on speed and accuracy in real-time audio processing and multi-wake word recognition during the weekly challenge.

Participants received a dataset containing firefighter communication and commands in a one-minute audio recording. Their task was to develop a machine learning model that accurately identifies communication vs. commands in real-time, evaluated based on accuracy, latency, and computational efficiency at the audio frame level.

The hackathon attracted over 150 teams and 280 participants from diverse backgrounds, including professionals, students, and hobbyists. Competitors were tasked with developing AI solutions to analyze audio streams for emergency services, a challenge aimed at improving the efficiency and safety of operations in critical situations.

 

A panel of 6 judges from the pool of industry experts were tasked to evaluate the performances and after intense deliberation, six outstanding teams were selected to share a prize pool of AED 25,500.

 

 

The groundbreaking event, concluded with an award ceremony on February 15th, 2024, at the DDS AI Monthly Community Meetup, hosted at the In5 Innovation Centre in Internet City, Dubai, UAE.

The event was graced by the presence of AAICO board members Arya Bolurfrushan and His Highness Prince Stefan von Liechtenstein, whose support underscores the importance of AI innovation for positive societal change. 

 

 

The 6 winning teams were interviewed live during the event where they recalled their challenges and shared their hackathon experience.

 

 

AAICO is known for its focus on automating and enhancing mission-critical processes within the health and safety sectors. At the launch event at DIFC, Theo Fagnoni, who is a lead engineer in AAICO’s Applied Sciences division, said: “AAICO hackathons are a fun and financially rewarding way for aspiring and experienced data science, software and AI engineers to collaborate on new and interesting real-world problems as well as develop relationships with the AAICO team for internships and job opportunities down the road.“

 

 

The Applied AI Company (AAICO) specialises in building products that automate and enhance mission-critical processes within the health and safety sectors. Focused on improving productivity and quality in document-heavy decisions, AAICO serves industries such as healthcare, insurance, and pharmaceuticals, processing millions of articles monthly across the US, UK, Europe, and the UAE. www.aaico.com

 Special thanks are extended to Phillip Kingston, Théo Fagnoni, and Kris Karcher from AAICO for their dedication to the event’s success, as well as to Mohammad Arshad, Patrick Cheesman and Sadiya Kauser Ahmad for their pivotal roles in driving the community’s achievements. The contributions of all involved, including speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees, have been vital to fostering a spirit of learning, inspiration, and collaboration within the AI and Data Science community.

Mohammad Arshad Ahmad, Founder believes in encouraging tech-savvy people to take part in hackathons . “Embracing hackathons is not just a fun social activity but a key catalyst to unleashing an individual’s tech potential.”

 As we reflect on this memorable evening, we look forward to future events that continue to promote innovation, knowledge sharing, and inclusive growth in the field of AI and Data Science.

This event was also featured in Khaleej Times

AAICO February 2024 Hackathon launched at Decoding Data Science – News | Khaleej Times