# Gen's AI Hackathon Cultivates Innovation Across All Employee Functions > The AI Sprint at Gen brought together 600 employees to innovate and create AI solutions, showcasing that groundbreaking ideas can emerge from any department. This initiative emphasizes the importance of a culture that encourages experimentation and collaboration. **Source**: google.com | **Published**: 2026-08-04 | **Type**: case_study ## Key Facts - Gen's AI Hackathon engaged 600+ employees, showcasing innovation across all functions, not just tech. - Limitless Logic Minds developed a secure hosting platform, enhancing accessibility for non-technical staff. - AI Learning Labs fostered confidence in tools like Claude Code, crucial for adapting to tech shifts. - Empowering all employees to innovate reduces reliance on specific teams, enhancing competitive agility. - Gen's culture of experimentation positions it to lead in AI, vital for future-proofing against market changes. ## Summary \## Summary Gen, a global technology company, faced the challenge of fostering a culture of innovation to stay ahead of cyber threats. They implemented an AI Sprint, which included a global Hackathon and AI Learning Labs, resulting in over 600 employees collaborating to create AI solutions that enhanced workflows and efficiency. \## Background Gen operates in the technology sector and has a diverse workforce spread across various global sites. Before the deployment of the AI Sprint, the company recognized the need to innovate and adapt to emerging technologies to improve efficiency and problem-solving capabilities among employees. \## Challenge The primary challenge was to cultivate a culture where employees felt empowered to experiment with new tools and ideas, thereby enhancing collaboration and innovation across different functions within the organization. \## Solution Gen organized a series of AI-focused events, including a global Hackathon that engaged over 600 employees from various departments, forming 126 teams. These teams worked on developing AI solutions to address real challenges, such as automating repetitive tasks and streamlining workflows. One notable project was the creation of an internal hosting platform that enabled non-technical employees to deploy and share HTML-based applications securely. \## Results The Hackathon demonstrated that innovation could emerge from any part of the organization, breaking down silos between departments. Employees gained confidence in using AI tools, and the collaborative environment fostered creativity and experimentation. The specific metrics of success were not provided. \## Key Insights Encouraging experimentation and collaboration across all levels of an organization can lead to innovative solutions. Providing employees with the opportunity to learn and adapt to new technologies is essential for fostering a culture of continuous improvement. \## Customer Testimonial No direct quote was provided in the source material. ## Entities - **Companies**: Gen, Norton, Avast, LifeLock, MoneyLion - **Products**: Claude Code, Copilot, Glean, n8n - **Technologies**: AI, HTML dashboards ## Key Concepts AI Hackathon, AI Learning Labs, innovation culture, employee empowerment, collaboration, future of work, responsible AI, experimenting with tools ## Definitions - **AI Hackathon**: An event where employees collaborate to create AI solutions to real challenges, fostering innovation and teamwork. - **AI Learning Labs**: Peer-led sessions designed to help employees build confidence and skills in using emerging AI tools and technologies. - **Answer Engine Optimization**: The evolving approach to search that focuses on providing direct answers to user queries, influenced by AI advancements. - **employee empowerment**: Encouraging employees to take initiative and experiment with new ideas and tools to improve workflows. - **innovation culture**: A workplace environment that promotes creativity, experimentation, and the challenging of existing processes. ## Use Cases - Automating repetitive tasks - Streamlining workflows - Developing internal hosting platforms for web applications - Building employee-created tools - Exploring responsible AI practices - Enhancing data security and privacy ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is the purpose of the AI Hackathon?** The AI Hackathon aims to foster collaboration among employees to create innovative AI solutions that address real challenges within the company. It encourages experimentation and empowers employees to think creatively. **How do AI Learning Labs benefit employees?** AI Learning Labs provide employees with the opportunity to learn about emerging AI tools in a supportive environment. These sessions help build confidence and understanding of how AI can enhance their daily work. **What types of projects were developed during the Hackathon?** During the Hackathon, teams worked on various projects, including automating tasks, streamlining workflows, and creating internal platforms for sharing applications. The focus was on practical solutions to everyday challenges. **How does Gen promote a culture of innovation?** Gen promotes a culture of innovation by encouraging employees to experiment with new ideas and tools, challenge existing processes, and collaborate across different functions. This approach helps cultivate creativity and adaptability. **What is the significance of responsible AI discussions?** Responsible AI discussions are crucial as they address ethical considerations, data security, and privacy concerns associated with AI technologies. These conversations help ensure that AI is used in a way that is beneficial and safe for all stakeholders. ## Links - [Read on Welcome.AI](https://welcome.ai/content/gens-ai-hackathon-cultivates-innovation-across-all-employee-functions) - [Original source](https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.gendigital.com/blog/impact/community/gen-ai-sprint-hackathon-2026&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjY2OGU1ODRjMmVmNTM0MzU6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AOvVaw3q0RwAtLGdhgVAYj8vZrpp) --- Source: Welcome.AI | https://welcome.ai/content/gens-ai-hackathon-cultivates-innovation-across-all-employee-functions