About the challenge

The AI 4 Earth Hackathon is an open-ended AI problem-solving challenge dedicated to our planet. Participants are free to identify a real-world environmental or sustainability problem of their choosing and design a solution using modern AI tools and techniques.

Rather than restricting teams to a narrow ecological theme, the event emphasizes:

Creative problem selection: Finding unique angles to address climate change, conservation, energy, or sustainability.
Practical, real-world impact: Building tools that can actually make a difference for the planet or local communities.
Thoughtful use of AI: Leveraging LLMs, APIs, automation, data analysis, or AI agents to tackle complex environmental datasets.
Clear articulation of why the solution matters: Explaining the environmental urgency behind your project.

Projects can span any domain within the green space (renewable energy, wildlife conservation, carbon tracking, sustainable agriculture, waste reduction, climate education, etc.), as long as AI plays a meaningful role in the solution.

Teams will be evaluated on problem clarity, technical implementation, innovation, and potential environmental impact.

Get started

Form a team (or work solo).
Identify an environmental problem you care about or have personally observed.
Design and build an AI-powered solution using any tools or platforms you choose.
Submit your project with a short explanation of the problem, solution, and AI usage.

No prior hackathon experience is required. This event is designed to be welcoming to beginners while still offering depth and challenge for experienced builders passionate about climate tech.

Requirements

What to Build

Build a working project that uses AI in a meaningful way to solve a real-world environmental or sustainability problem of your choosing.

Your project should:

Clearly identify an environmental problem or sustainability pain point.
Use AI as a core component of the solution (not just a superficial add-on).
Demonstrate technical thoughtfulness, creativity, and potential positive impact on the planet.

Acceptable project types include (but are not limited to):

Web or mobile applications (e.g., carbon footprint trackers, eco-habit builders).
AI agents or automation workflows (e.g., automated supply chain optimization, climate data scrapers).
Developer tools, predictive models, or APIs (e.g., deforestation tracking models, energy grid simulators).

You may use any programming language, framework, model, or platform. Open-source tools, climate datasets, and publicly available APIs are all allowed.

What to Submit

Each team must submit the following on Devpost:

Project title and short description
Problem statement – what problem you are solving and why it matters
Solution overview – how your project works
AI usage explanation – how AI is used and why it improves the solution
Demo – video, live demo link, or screenshots showing your project in action
Source code or repository link (public or private with access)

GatewayGS & The AEI Initiative: AI 4 Earth Hackathon

Prize breakdown

Timeline

About

About the challenge

Get started

Requirements

What to Build

What to Submit