Data4Good Stammtisch: Hackathons in the Age of AI

We are the Cologne chapter of CorrelAid, a network of data enthusiasts who volunteer to use their passion for social good. Based in Cologne, we connect data enthusiasts from Bonn, Cologne and Düsseldorf. Anyone who wants to use data to make the world a better place is welcome to join us at our events and projects.

At this Stammtisch, we would like to hear your views on the use of AI in hackathons. In which ways does AI help? In which areas does it not help? How does the use of AI impact the interactions between the participants - and the results?

Perhaps more fundamentally: what should be the purpose for humans in hackathons when AI is doing (most of) the work? How should success be evaluated - whether or not the hackathon is a competition? How can prototypes by AI be further developed into production systems by e.g. nonprofits who organized the hackathons as a means to get help given their often limited budget?

Here are some examples of hackathons and similar events we have recently participated or plan to attend. We look forward to hearing about your very own experience and expectations on hackathons - or simply group projects - in which AI is involved.

• https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-for-good-hackathon-ua-ruhr-x-bryck-startup-alliance-tickets-1989080181367
• https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/de/unsere-projekte/data-science/projektnachrichten/datenherausforderungen
• https://www.eventbrite.de/e/virtual-ai-for-good-datathon-hosted-by-dssg-berlin-dssg-nyc-tickets-1993605979150

Last but not least here are some research papers for orientation purposes. We will also summarize their viewpoints during the Stammtisch to add to our dialog:

• https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.17434
• https://dl.acm.org/doi/epdf/10.1145/3803437.3806711

Please note the following:

• This event will be conducted in English.
• Please purchase at least one drink to support the venue.
• Please bring cash for payments. Only cash is accepted at the moment.
• This event follows the CorrelAid Code of Conduct.
• There are multiple ways to register for this event. Therefore, the number of people who sign up on Meetup does not necessarily reflect the number of people who will actually participate.