The High-Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence Hackathon, held alongside the "12th Saudi Conference on High-Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence," organized by King Khalid University’s College of Computer Science, continues into its second day. The event sees the participation of 120 individuals from various scientific disciplines, divided into 30 teams, all vying to develop innovative technological solutions that could address the pressing environmental and agricultural challenges facing the Kingdom.

Dr. Ayman Ibrahim Qahmash, the Vice Dean of the College of Computer Science for Educational Affairs and Development, emphasized that the hackathon aims to foster innovation and creative thinking among participants. The focus is on leveraging high-performance computing and artificial intelligence to craft effective, sustainable solutions. He noted that 15 mentors have been dedicated to guiding and supervising the teams throughout the competition to ensure that the projects are of high quality and practical applicability. Furthermore, four judges, all experts in computing and artificial intelligence, have been selected to evaluate the projects and choose the winners.

Qahmash highlighted that the event has attracted participation from seven academic institutions: King Abdulaziz University, King Faisal University, the Islamic University of Madinah, Shaqra University, Bisha University, Jeddah University, and King Khalid University. He added that the hackathon allows teams to work on their projects across three main tracks: Artificial Intelligence and Environment, High-Performance Computing and Agriculture, and Air Quality Improvement. In these tracks, participants employ high-performance computing technologies to analyze data, simulate models, and develop innovative solutions to environmental problems. The goal of these tracks is to present implementable technical solutions that contribute to improving the quality of life and environmental resources in the Kingdom.

Qahmash also mentioned that the hackathon will offer cash prizes totaling more than 40,000 riyals to the winners who succeed in developing the most innovative solutions that make a real contribution to the field of environmental sustainability. He pointed out that the organization of this event is part of the university’s efforts to promote scientific research and technological innovation in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and its objectives for advancing the technology and innovation sector. The hackathon also provides a unique opportunity for students to test their technical and practical skills, collaborate with peers across various fields, and work together to achieve common goals.