Sea, OpenAI launch first-ever regional Codex hackathon series

Summary:

• Sea and OpenAI are launching the first-ever Sea x OpenAI Regional Codex Hackathon series to support AI innovation across Asia Pacific, with the first edition of the series kicking off in Singapore on June 6.
• The event seeks over 150 experienced developers in teams of three or four who can build advanced solutions in three specific areas: autonomous AI agents, products with AI at their core, and specialized “deep domain” AI for specific industries.
• Applications for the hackathon are now open and will close on May 28. Learn more about the event and apply to participate here.

Hackathons have long been regarded as fertile ground for innovation. This is why homegrown tech company Sea and OpenAI are joining forces to launch the first-ever Regional Sea x OpenAI Codex Hackathon series.

A deepening of the ongoing collaboration between the two companies, the initiative is designed to support AI innovation and developer communities across Asia Pacific, beginning with a kickoff event in Singapore on June 6.

A collaboration of powerhouses

The hackathon marks a significant milestone in the partnership between Sea – the company behind Shopee, Garena, and Monee – and OpenAI, best known for the development of the large language model, ChatGPT.

Photo credit: Sea

Together, the two companies aim to create more opportunities for developers in Asia Pacific to gain hands-on experience building with advanced AI technologies and accelerate the region’s growing AI ecosystem.

Sea is already leading by example. As one of Singapore’s leading tech companies, Sea has adopted Codex – OpenAI’s AI-powered coding solution – across its internal software development workflows. By implementing AI-native engineering at scale, the company is demonstrating how emerging tools can help developers experiment faster, improve workflows, and turn complex ideas into practical solutions more efficiently.

“At Sea, we believe innovation grows stronger when communities can learn, experiment, and build together,” says David Chen, chief product officer at Shopee. “As AI continues to shape the future of technology, it is important that more people across the region gain hands-on experience and contribute to how these technologies are applied to address real-world needs.”

Thibault Sottiaux, head of Codex at OpenAI, echoes this sentiment, noting that Sea is one of its largest Codex customers in Asia.

“We’re excited to work alongside Sea for our first regional hackathon series to expand access to Codex across APAC and support the next generation of developers and builders in the region,” Sottiaux says.

First stop: Singapore

Singapore is the first stop of this regional hackathon series, which will expand into other markets, including Indonesia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Photo credit: Sea

The organizers aim to gather more than 150 developers and AI builders who will form approximately 40 teams with three to four members each.

Register for the Singapore edition today

The one-day event is designed for AI developers, students, and builders who wish to explore AI’s potential and develop real-world applications. It is guided by three specific directions that reflect the current frontiers of AI development:

1. Autonomous and adaptive AI: Participants are tasked to build agents that can be trusted to operate without constant human oversight. These agents must be able to handle the unexpected and remain reliable even when real-world conditions shift.

2. AI-native products and operations: Moving away from AI as a mere “add-on” feature, this direction focuses on how products and operations can be fundamentally reshaped when AI is at their core.

3. Deep domain AI: This track encourages building an AI solution that goes deep into a specific field. The goal is to reflect how work is actually done in specialized industries, providing value through genuine domain understanding rather than general capability.

For those who can deliver, the rewards are substantial. Sea and OpenAI are offering a prize pool designed to help winning teams continue their development after the hackathon ends.

• 1st Place: US$30,000 in OpenAI API credits
• 2nd Place: US$15,000 in OpenAI API credits
• 3rd Place: US$5,000 in OpenAI API credits

Additionally, all members of the top 5 teams will receive a one-year subscription to ChatGPT Pro.

Supporting the next wave of AI innovation

As AI adoption continues to grow, developers and founders across Southeast Asia are exploring how emerging technologies can be applied to address real-world challenges. Through initiatives like the Regional Sea x OpenAI Codex Hackathon series, Sea and OpenAI hope to create more opportunities for builders to experiment, collaborate, and develop practical AI-driven solutions

“By bringing together developers, ideas, and communities, initiatives like this can help nurture the growing AI ecosystem,” says Shopee’s Chen. “It also provides a platform to bridge the gap between the potential of AI and practical solutions that create meaningful impact in people’s everyday lives.”

The Sea x OpenAI Regional Codex Hackathon series aims to support AI innovation and developer communities across Asia Pacific.

The hackathon’s Singapore edition will take place on June 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Applications are now open and will close on May 28.

Learn more about the event and apply to participate here.

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