Highlights from Meta’s first ever Llama hackathon in India

Groundbreaking Llama Hackathon in India: The first-ever Llama Hackathon in India, hosted by Reskilll and Meta, brought together over 270 participants in Bengaluru to create AI solutions using Meta’s Llama 3 models and WhatsApp APIs.

• The event attracted more than 1,500 applications, with 350 teams submitting ideas in the pre-selection round.
• 95 teams were invited to compete in a 30-hour hackathon, supported by 25+ mentors and six jury members.
• Partners included AWS, Qdrant, Tune AI, Sarvam, and LlamaIndex.

Event statistics and themes: The hackathon showcased impressive participation and focused on three key areas for AI innovation.

• Over 75 projects were completed during the event.
• The hackathon centered around three themes: AI for Societal Good, Build on WhatsApp, and AI on Edge.
• Total prize money for the event was $7,000 USD.

Winning projects and innovations: The top teams developed solutions addressing critical societal needs, leveraging AI and WhatsApp integration.

• First place: CurePharma AI ($3,000 USD) – A healthcare solution offering personalized medication information in regional languages.
• Second place: CivicFix ($2,000 USD) – An AI-powered WhatsApp bot for reporting and addressing local civic issues.
• Third place: Evalssment ($1,000 USD) – An AI-driven tool to reduce educators’ workload in grading and assignment creation.
• Best All-Women Team: Aarogya Assist ($1,000 USD) – A healthcare aggregator simplifying access to essential services via WhatsApp.

Notable projects and solutions: Several other teams presented innovative ideas across various sectors.

• SPAM – LX Reasoning Engine: A text-to-ASL translation tool for improved accessibility for the Deaf community.
• KaryaAI: A multi-agent approach for creating culturally diverse and contextually relevant story-based curricula.
• Auto Bot: An edge-based personal assistant for home automation using voice commands.
• Benjamin Button: A novel model compression technique for task-specific AI solutions.
• KPMG – Data Citizen – Grant Guru: An AI solution helping non-profits discover and apply for grants.
• HeyHomie: A SaaS platform enabling homepreneurs to grow their businesses on WhatsApp.

Llama 3.1 impact and accessibility: The hackathon demonstrated the versatility and accessibility of Meta’s Llama models for creating complex AI solutions.

• Participants leveraged the latest Llama models to develop impactful projects in a short timeframe.
• The event showcased Llama’s potential in empowering civic engagement and enhancing healthcare accessibility.

Broader implications: The inaugural Llama Hackathon in India represents a significant step towards fostering AI innovation in the region.

• The event highlights the growing interest and expertise in AI development within India’s tech community.
• By focusing on societal challenges, the hackathon demonstrated the potential for AI to address real-world problems in areas such as healthcare, education, and civic engagement.
• The success of this event may pave the way for more AI-focused hackathons and collaborations between tech giants and local developers in emerging markets.