FOUNDING HACKATHON 2026 · DECIDE · BUILD · DEPLOY

From principles to physical AI.

Build the foundations. Build the community. Build with Sophia.

Help launch GAIA-AI through three connected challenge streams spanning responsible AI, community technology and virtual-to-real robotics. Explore the questions, development environment and contribution routes behind the Founding Hackathon.

Global virtual programmeSep 2026 to Jan 2027Two-day in-person eventLondon, Feb 2027Relevant contributionsTechnical and non-technical

THREE CONNECTED CHALLENGES

One programme. Three challenges that build on each other.

The challenges are connected rather than independent. The first establishes the requirements. The second embeds them into the community platform. The third applies them to SAIL, testing and responsible deployment.

01 Define the requirements02 Build them into the platform03 Apply them through SAIL

CHALLENGE 01

Define the Wisdom and Responsibility Layer

Build the responsible AI and community foundations that will guide every part of the programme. Help establish the initial values, ethics, evidence, safety and governance requirements, together with the participation protocols needed to enable relevant and diverse voices to contribute meaningfully, fairly and safely. These foundations will guide engagement and participation, how decisions are made and how ideas, research and technology are developed, tested and implemented across Challenges 2 and 3.

CORE QUESTION

What values, evidence, safeguards and forms of governance are needed for AI to strengthen human agency and flourish with humanity and the living world?

WHAT THIS CHALLENGE WILL PRODUCE

A practical values and responsibility charter
Evidence, risk and impact frameworks
Governance, moderation and escalation workflows
Testable ethics, safety and acceptance requirements
Release gates that must be applied to Challenges 2 and 3

CHALLENGE 02

Build the GAIA-AI Community Platform

Build a functioning MVP of the first GAIA-AI collaborative environment, connecting knowledge, research, working groups, projects, collaborators and practical opportunities.

WHAT THIS CHALLENGE WILL PRODUCE

Member profiles that capture multiple skills, interests and relevant lived experience
Challenge proposals, team formation and contribution matching
Research and evidence libraries
Collaborative project workspaces and transparent decision records
Clear attribution and recognition of contributions
Privacy, accessibility, moderation and safeguarding
A complete journey from joining to forming a team and contributing to a project

CHALLENGE 03

Build with Sophia through SAIL: Virtual to Real

Develop the initial SAIL workflow and one or more AI-for-Good prototypes, creating a responsible pathway from virtual development to carefully controlled physical implementation.

WHAT THIS CHALLENGE WILL PRODUCE

A virtual Sophia interface with clearly documented technical boundaries
Story and scenario-building tools
Project templates, versioning, provenance and activity logs
Testing tools, human-feedback mechanisms and safety gates
A controlled virtual-to-physical pathway

VIRTUAL FIRSTEvery project will begin virtually. Progression to physical Sophia will occur only after the agreed technical, human-testing, safety and responsible-development gates have been passed, the necessary intellectual property and access arrangements are complete, and explicit approval has been given.

HACKATHON DELIVERY PARTNERS

Expertise coming together to build and deliver the programme

OxAI, OxBridge AIx and Impactoverse are working with Hanson Robotics and GAIA-AI to design, convene and deliver the Founding Hackathon.

Together, they bring complementary experience across responsible AI, research, community building, technology, robotics and programme delivery.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAMME

Go deeper into the Founding Hackathon

Explore why the programme matters, how the phases connect, the role of Sophia and SAIL, areas of enquiry and ways to contribute.

WHY GAIA-AI EXISTS

Technology alone cannot decide what responsible AI should become.

As AI becomes more capable, autonomous and embodied, decisions about how these systems behave will affect work, relationships, communities and everyday life. The hackathon creates a practical environment to examine those questions before they become embedded in technology.

The goal is to discuss what responsible AI should look like and then build it.

QUESTION 01

Who should these systems serve?

QUESTION 02

What decisions should they be allowed to make?

QUESTION 03

What should remain under human control?

QUESTION 04

How should they respond when something goes wrong?

QUESTION 05

What makes an interaction helpful rather than manipulative?

QUESTION 06

How can systems strengthen rather than weaken human agency?

PROGRAMME FLOW

From foundations to physical deployment

SEP TO OCT 2026

Establish the foundations

Non-technical work defines initial requirements, safeguards and participation principles.

NOV 2026 TO JAN 2027

Develop and test

Platform and technical work progresses through collaboration and virtual experimentation.

FEB 2027

Integrate and demonstrate

In-person testing, safety validation, approved deployment, showcase and shared learning.

Choose how you could contribute.

Tell us which challenge stream interests you and what relevant knowledge, skills, creativity or lived experience you could bring. Full challenge applications will open later through the community dashboard.