Answers about AI Builder Challenge registration, teams, Daily Missions, submissions, judging, awards, and project publication.
The Challenge is open globally to people at every experience level, including developers, AI engineers, students, researchers, founders, product builders, and no-code or low-code builders. We particularly encourage women and other underrepresented groups in AI and technology to take part.
Challenge signup includes a free Explorer conference pass if you do not already have a pass. You do not need to complete a separate ticket checkout.
Challenge signup closes on October 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Complete your participant profile and confirm your team before the deadline.
Yes. You can build solo or participate as part of a confirmed team of up to four people.
A team can have up to four participants. The team creator can invite up to three teammates from the participant dashboard. Each teammate accepts the invitation through their own account.
Yes. You can create a team, invite teammates, or accept an invitation before team formation closes. Build solo if you prefer.
Teams must be confirmed by October 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, before the build sprint starts.
No professional development experience is required. Choose a code, low-code, no-code, or mixed approach that fits your skills and project.
There is no required stack. You may use the AI models, APIs, frameworks, open-source libraries, developer tools, and no-code or low-code platforms that fit your solution.
No. The Inspiration Areas are examples, not competition tracks. Build in any domain as long as you identify a real user or community, address a meaningful problem or opportunity, and give AI a clear role.
Yes. In your final submission, document the starting state and clearly distinguish what existed before the Challenge from what you create or change during the five build days.
Each build day has one Daily Mission that moves your project toward a working result. Use the project draft to record your progress and prepare the required final submission.
A team maintains one shared project draft. Teammates do not submit duplicate project drafts individually.
The time depends on your project, experience, and build approach. Scope the project so your team can make meaningful progress on one Daily Mission each day.
You can continue building. The Daily Missions guide the sprint, while final eligibility is based on the required project fields and an on-time final submission.
No. Support sessions and Office Hours are optional. Complete the required project fields and final submission before the cutoff.
Session times and available recordings will be shared with registered participants in the Challenge workspace as the schedule is confirmed.
Official deadlines use Eastern Time, America/New_York. The participant dashboard shows the equivalent deadlines in your local time zone.
Submit a functional AI application, a public working link, a concise project summary, the problem and target user, AI's role, your starting point, what you built, and responsible-build notes. A recorded demo and technical materials are optional.
Yes. The final submission requires a working URL that reviewers can access. Do not submit a private dashboard or a link that requires reviewer credentials. You may add a recorded demo or walkthrough as supporting material.
No. Source code is not required. You may optionally share a repository or additional technical documentation.
Eligible projects enter Peer Review first. Organizers then manage the shortlist and jury review outside the participant dashboard using the published criteria. Every project uses the same criteria regardless of domain or build stack.
Each eligible participant reviews three assigned projects and gives constructive feedback. Completing the three assigned reviews is part of the evaluation process.
After Peer Review and internal shortlisting, organizers manage jury evaluation using the published criteria and invite selected finalists to present on October 15.
No. Only selected finalists present live at the Community Showcase on October 15.
Community voting selects the Community Choice Award only. It does not change the jury's selection of the main Challenge Winner.
The award structure includes the AI Builder Challenge Winner and Community Choice Award. Additional partner-supported awards, tools, credits, services, or other practical resources may be announced before the Challenge.
Yes. You retain ownership of the project you create. Participation does not transfer ownership to AI Builders.
Only projects with publication consent can appear in the public Challenge gallery. The project owner or team creator controls that consent in the participant dashboard.
Yes. Explain your AI's role and consider data use, privacy, transparency, accessibility, human oversight, and potential risks or harms.
The participant dashboard provides the submission requirements and phase-specific instructions. The AI Builders Code of Conduct applies throughout the Challenge and conference.