Formula E, Google and E.ON at the world’s largest AI Hackathon
A thousand people, laptops open, all racing against the clock to solve AI and cutting-edge technology challenges. Sound like something out of an action movie? But this wasn’t fiction — it was reality, and much closer to home.
In an incredible gathering of more than 1,000 tech enthusiasts, E.ON’s UK digital team joined the world’s largest generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) hackathon led by Google Cloud and electric motorsports series Formula E. A hackathon is essentially an event where people come together to collaborate to help solve a problem or identify a new opportunity or software – in this case, it was focussed around generative AI - the use of AI to create new content, like text, images or videos.
The mission: to push the boundaries of innovation by enhancing ’Driverbots’, developing AI safety systems capable of detecting on-track incidents and creating AI-powered sustainability scorecards for Formula E which compares the Formula E GEN3 car’s eco-friendliness with other vehicles.
The event not only broke records in terms of participants but also showcased the immense potential of AI in revolutionising industries such as motorsports — a sector to which we’re already deeply connected through our partnership with E.ON Next Veloce Racing.
Accelerating innovation with AI
The hackathon wasn’t just about setting a Guinness World Record, it was a chance to dive deep into the transformative power of AI. Our team took on the challenge of creating an AI-powered sustainability scorecard, designed to compare the environmental performance of the latest Formula E racing cars with any other vehicle.
Using the Google Cloud console, the team were able to upload the Formula E team’s data and utilised both AI tools to compare different vehicles. Despite a few challenges, the team’s problem-solving skills and resilience stood out – not only pushing their creative boundaries but also providing valuable insights for enhancing future AI hackathons at E.ON.
With 60% of the more than 1,000 participants lacking direct AI experience, the hackathon focused on bridging this gap and showcasing the practical, real-world applications of generative AI. It encouraged attendees to think creatively about its potential in motorsports and beyond.
What’s next?
The energy and innovation on show at the hackathon set the stage for our own third E.ON hackathon this autumn, centred around AI advancements and how we can use this to improve our service to customers. We’re eager to apply the lessons learned and continue exploring how AI can drive improvements in our operations.
We’ll continue to push the boundaries of innovation and uphold our commitment to technological excellence, improving the experience for our customers - whilst being a playmaker in driving the energy transition.