What is MacHacks?

MacHacks - presented by the McMaster Artificial Intelligence Society - is one of Canada's first major hackathons with a focus on Artificial Intelligence. The competition is sprint-style and enables students from all disciplines and experience levels to come together to produce innovative solutions. More information regarding scheduling and workshops will be released on our Instagram and website in the coming weeks.

Questions can be directed to our FAQ below.

Interested in partnering with us? View our sponsorship package here.

MacHacks 2024 will be happening Fall 2024 as a hybrid hackathon based at McMaster University.
Our schedule with in-person events is coming shortly.

We hope to see you there.

Past Events

Over 500 attendees from 15+ countries around the world

71 project submissions

Previous projects and winners can be found here

Team

Ana Han

Co-Chair

Theo Liu

Co-Chair

Aishah Memon

Co-Director of Marketing

Jasmine Sodhi

Co-Director of Marketing

Shantika Ravindran

Co-Director of Internal Relations

Kundan Ahliwalia

Director of External Relations

Jaydev Vemulakonda

Co-Director of Internal Relations

Matthew Wilker

Co-Director of Logistics

Ben Sun

Co-Director of Logistics

FAQ

What is a hackathon?

A hackathon is a live event where “hackers” (participants) design, develop, and pitch a software or hardware project built from scratch over the course of 48 hours. We will provide you with the resources and mentorship needed in order to make this happen!

I'm a beginner to coding/AI/hackathons. Should I participate?

Yes! We welcome hackers from all backgrounds. Whether this is your first hackathon, or you are an absolute veteran, all that we ask of you is that you are excited to learn about AI. We will provide workshops to help you gain any necessary skills, so don't be scared if you're a beginner! In addition, if you’re a designer or business student, your design and pitching skills are also very valuable!

What do I need?

You'll need a laptop and charger. An idea and team are not necessary, although feel free to come in with a pre-assembled team! We will have team building sessions to help you meet new people (max 4 per team) with who you can make an amazing hack.

Where is MacHacks?

Our event will take place in-person at the John Hodgins Engineering Building at McMaster University, and virtually on Discord and Hopin.

When is MacHacks?

February 3-5th, 2023. A full schedule will be released shortly.

How much does it cost to attend?

Everything is free!

Am I eligible to attend?

Any secondary or post-secondary students are eligible to participate in our event.

Is there a code of conduct?

Yes, we adhere to the MLH Code of Conduct.

General AI

Artificial intelligence has changed the nature of everything around us, from business to philosophy to technology. If your skillset is diverse, or your interests broad, this is the place for you. Learn and practice applying machine- and deep-learning models to solve a vast range of everyday issues.

“A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.”
— Alexander Pope

Biotechnology, Health, and Safety

Are you interested in shaping the future of science and medicine? Do you wonder how we can ensure our safety in a global pandemic? If you strive to find solutions to improve our health and wellbeing, then we challenge you to discover and employ the endless applications of artificial intelligence.

Environmental

Global warming, climate change, and more. The environment is rampant with issues that humans have caused, and it's us to up to fix it. We challenge you to use artificial intelligence to help the environment and push for a more sustainable and eco-friendly version of planet Earth.

Business Solutions

Since the occurrence of COVID-19, large and small businesses alike have incurred major revenue losses and are in danger. With this follows a loss of jobs and unique goods and services. We challenge you to use artificial intelligence to develop a solution to help out businesses and reboot the economy.

Quantum
Computing

Partner with our sponsors to create a unique quantum computing-based application. No experience required — take a leap into the unknown and learn a new skill! Quantum computing resources will be provided. Prizes will be awarded for performance, as well as creativity.

“The history of the universe is, in effect, a huge and ongoing quantum computation.”
— Seth Lloyd

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