May 2024: Dive in AI Building with Instill AI's Hackathon and Local Workshop

Building on the success of last October's Hacktoberfest, we are excited to announce a global week-long Hackathon from May 18th to 24th, focused on leveraging Instill Cloud to tackle real-world challenges. This time, Instill AI will join forces with Numbers Protocol to enable builders to create responsible AI applications using blockchain and C2PA content provenance. In conjunction with this, we will also host a complementary local workshop in Taiwan on May 18th to deepen participants' engagement and learning.

In this blog post, we will guide you on participating in these exciting events and making the most of your contributions. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a beginner looking to get involved, we have something for everyone. So let's dive in and discover how you can join the Hackathon fun!

#Basic Information

#Global Hackathon Week

• Hackathon Topic: Build creative applications with Instill Cloud!
• Hackathon Duration: May 18th - May 24th
• Hackathon Location: Online Worldwide
• Registration: Google Form

#Hackathon Workshop Day in Taipei

Join us for a special local event tailored for hackers in Taipei.

• Topic: No-code AI Building Workshop - Learn hands-on with Instill Cloud to build real-world AI applications and win prizes during the Global Hackathon Week.
• Workshop Time: May 18th 10AM - 5PM (GMT+8)
• Workshop Location: Taipei, Taiwan (五倍學院)
• Registration: Accupass

Note that the workshop and Hackathon are independent events; attending one does not necessitate participation in the other.

#How to Participate?

For both the Hackathon and Workshop, registration is required for all attendees. Participants interested in the Hackathon must register via Google Form, while those attending the local workshop should register through Accupass.

Registered participants for either event will receive 50,000 Instill Credits to fully leverage the capabilities of Instill Cloud. For builders looking to integrate C2PA and blockchain provenance into their generative AI content, a Capture account powered by Numbers Protocol is required prior to the Hackathon. You can find detailed instructions in this article. After registering, you will receive 12 free NUM credits to add content provenance in the Instill Cloud.

Let's take a closer look at what 50,000 Instill Credits entail. With GPT-3.5 Turbo as our reference, users can harness the power equivalent to 2.5 million input tokens and 2.5 million output tokens. To put this into perspective, according to OpenAI, 1,500 words translate roughly to 2048 tokens. Hence, 2.5 million tokens correspond to approximately 1.8 million words. With such a substantial word count, you can engage GPT-3.5 Turbo extensively, generating vast amounts of content or conducting comprehensive analyses. Alternatively, shifting our gaze towards GPT-4, utilizing 50,000 Instill Credits grants access to 55,555 input tokens and 55,555 output tokens. Consequently, 55,555 tokens roughly correspond to 40,690 words, allowing you to leverage the capabilities of GPT-4 within this word limit. Additionally, the 12 free NUM credits from Numbers Protocol enable you to create a C2PA watermark with blockchain proof for up to 120 files.

For those interested in the Instill AI Workshop, please register and find more details on Accupass.

#Hackathon Preparation Checklist

Ensure a successful participation in the Hackathon by following these steps:

1. Sign Up for Instill Cloud: Register for an Instill Cloud account before you register for the Hackathon to fully utilize the platform.
2. Sign Up for Capture Dashboard (optional): Register for a Capture Dashboard account if you would like to include the component provided by Numbers Protocol and acquire the Capture token.
3. Register for the Hackathon: All participants must register through this Google Form before the event starts on May 18th.
4. Confirm Your Instill Credits: Registered participants will receive 50,000 Instill Credits to enhance their experience on Instill Cloud. The free credits will be credited to your account one day after you submit the registration form. If the credits are not applied on time, please contact us via Discord to have the credits applied.

#Begin Building

Explore the flexibility of Instill Cloud by creating applications with no limitations on type. Here are some inspirations:

• Mimic Existing Features: Consider replicating features like Arc’s "ask on page" capability, demonstrating potential and utility.
• Solve Real-world Problems: Use AI to address practical challenges, adding value and relevance to your creations.
• Create Responsible AI Applications: Use generative AI with content provenance to create responsible AI applications that protect the value of creativity.

#Inspiration Examples

• Webpage 5 sec previews: This pipeline scrapes a webpage and generates a summary, mimicking Arc Max's "5 Second Previews" functionality.
• Ask on page: This pipeline responds to queries about a webpage’s content, replicating Arc Max's "Ask on Page" functionality.
• From AI to BI: Transforming Business Intelligence: Leverage Large Language Model (LLM) to interact with business revenue reports, offering insights and recommendations for informed decision-making.
• Use no-code tools to create and label AI-generated content with C2PA watermark: Using no-code tools to create and watermark AI-generated content with C2PA standards, enhanced by the integration of OpenAI's DALL-E 3 and the Numbers Protocol for secure, traceable digital asset management.

#Submission Guidelines

Before submitting, ensure your project adheres to these rules:

• Instill Cloud Integration: Each project must use at least one Instill Cloud pipeline. Make sure to share your pipeline link and code(if any) on GitHub.
• Public Accessibility: Set your Instill Cloud pipeline and GitHub repository to public visibility.

#Steps to Submit

1. GitHub Repository Setup: Create a GitHub repository under your account with a README detailing the real-life problem your application solves, and include a URL to the Instill Cloud pipeline.
2. Final Submission: Submit your completed project, including the pipeline link and GitHub repository link, along with any supplementary materials (texts, slides, videos, etc.) through this Submission Google Form before May 24 at 11:59 PM (GMT+1).

#Judging Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria, which collectively determine the total score:

1. Quality of the Idea (20%): Evaluates the originality and creativity of your solution’s design and implementation.
2. Application Scope (20%): Assesses the range of potential use cases your solution can address, considering its versatility and adaptability.
3. Implementation of the Idea (20%): Focuses on how well your solution functions — its effectiveness in addressing the targeted problem and its practical usability.
4. Potential Business Value (20%): Measures the extent to which your application can facilitate business growth and deliver tangible benefits.
5. Comprehensive Documentation (20%): Emphasizes the clarity and completeness of your GitHub repository’s documentation. This includes a thorough explanation of your project's objectives, development processes, and deployment steps, ensuring comprehensibility and reproducibility.

These criteria are designed to promote a balance of innovation, relevance, functionality, and clarity in your submissions.

#Exciting Prizes Awaiting Hackathon Winners!

Every participant who submits a project in Instill AI Hackathon will earn 200,000 Instill Credits, boosting the capacity for creativity and innovation with our platform in future projects.

#Prize Categories:

• Most Creative & Original
• Most Valuable to Business
• Most Impressive Technical Implementation
• Most Responsible AI

#Prizes for Each Prize Category:

• Recognition: Winners will receive social recognition by Instill AI. The Winner of Most Responsible AI will also receive social recognition by Numbers Protocol.
• Instill Credits: Each category winner will be awarded 1,000,000 Instill Credits.
• NUM / Capture Credits: The Winner of Most Responsible AI will be awarded 1,200 NUM or Capture Credits.
• Swag Pack: Winners will also receive an exclusive Instill AI swag package, which includes Instill Physical Stickers, and an Instill Bottle or Mug.

These prizes are intended to honor the most innovative, commercially viable, and technically accomplished projects. If multiple projects stand out in any category, we may award more than one prize per category to acknowledge exceptional contributions. Join us to demonstrate your skills and possibly win these exciting rewards!

Instill Swag Package

#Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

#Do I need to have programming skill to participate?

Our tool allows you to effortlessly construct AI pipelines using a drag-and-drop interface, requiring no programming skills. However, if you possess programming abilities, you can further enhance your application by integrating the pipeline with other services using our API, or through our Python and TypeScript SDKs. This capability enables the creation of more diverse and sophisticated applications.

#Will there be any support available during the Hackathon Week?

Our team of experts will be available online throughout Hackathon Week to promptly address questions, provide guidance, and assist with any issues via Discord. Please reach out to us on Discord.

#What if I need more Instill Credits to complete my Hackathon project?

If you require additional Instill Credits, please reach out to us on Discord. We will respond promptly to assist you.

#Can teams participate, and how are team registrations handled?

Both individuals and teams can participate. However, since our tool do not require coding skill to build an AI application, individual participants are encouraged. If registering as a team, please designate a team leader to register and submit your work on behalf of the team. All team members must be registered on Instill Cloud. We will only offer one prize per team.

#Do I need to attend the workshop in order to participate in the Hackathon?

The workshop and Hackathon are separate events. Participation in one does not require participation in the other.

#Conclusion

This is a great chance to gather with like-minded people, learn from experts, and build innovative AI applications. Whether you're a seasoned developer, a beginner, or have no technical background at all, there's something for everyone in this Hackathon. We look forward to seeing your creative ideas and applications!