Cognizant’s Record-Breaking AI Hackathon: 250,000 Employees Coding the Future

Global IT giant Cognizant launches the world’s largest online generative AI hackathon to boost AI skills across its workforce.

Cognizant is making history by attempting a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the largest online generative AI hackathon ever held. Over 250,000 employees—from HR and marketing to engineering—are joining the week-long “vibe coding” event, designed to accelerate AI literacy and innovation across the company.

Democratizing AI Skills Across All Roles

With AI-generated code now accounting for nearly 30% of its output, Cognizant is embracing a future where AI empowers every employee, regardless of technical background. CEO Ravi Kumar S. highlights how this initiative breaks down traditional barriers, putting powerful AI tools into the hands of all talent and igniting creativity and productivity company-wide.

Partnering with Leading AI Platforms

To meet diverse skill levels, Cognizant teamed up with AI platforms like Lovable, Windsurf, Cursor, Gemini Code Assist, and GitHub Copilot. Employees choose their preferred tools and access a custom-built online hub packed with tutorials, learning resources, and streamlined project submissions—vibe coded internally in just one month.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation

The event features workshops, prompt engineering toolkits, innovation contests, and ongoing community engagement to sustain momentum. This builds on Cognizant’s broader AI commitment, including the Bluebolt idea platform with over half a million ideas submitted and the Synapse training program aiming to upskill one million people by 2026.

Looking Ahead

Cognizant’s vibe coding week is more than a record attempt—it’s a bold step toward embedding AI fluency at every level, empowering employees to shape the future of work and client solutions alike.