MIT Policy Hackathon: Expanding Horizons for AI Solutions
The MIT Policy Hackathon, organized by students in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society at MIT, draws hundreds of participants from around the world. This year’s theme, “Hack-GPT: Generating the Policy of Tomorrow,” focused on the impact of generative AI tools on various societal challenges.
Virtual Reality Hackathon
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a pivot to a virtual-only approach for this year’s event, allowing for increased participation and reduced costs. The organizers plan to switch between virtual and in-person formats in the future to maximize the benefits of both approaches.
Real-World Problem Solving
Eric Liu and Ashely Peake, first-year students in the Social and Engineering Systems doctoral program at MIT, participated in the housing challenge category, gaining valuable research experience in their field. Their team, Ctrl+Alt+Defeat, won the challenge by addressing the eviction crisis in the United States.
Fresh Perspectives and New Frontiers
Participants from around the world brought fresh perspectives to the challenges presented at the hackathon, fueling innovation and creativity. The diverse range of challenges, including health, human rights, and aerospace, showcased the potential for policy hackathons to make real changes in the world.