ASTANA – More than 2,500 participants from 21 countries and 129 universities took part in a five-hour artificial intelligence hackathon in Astana on Sept. 23, as organizers sought to set a Guinness World Records title for the event.
The hackathon is underway. Photo credit: HackAlem AI
The Hackalem AI hackathon was held as part of Kazakhstan’s AI Month and brought together participants to develop AI-based solutions and featured involvement from global technology companies including OpenAI and NVIDIA. Organizers said the result will be announced after Guinness World Records completes its verification process, with confirmation expected during Digital Bridge 2026 in October.
For Kazakhstan, the event goes beyond the pursuit of a Guinness World Records title. HackAlem AI brought together young developers, students and IT enthusiasts to work on AI solutions addressing real-world challenges, creating an opportunity to connect the country’s growing pool of AI talent with business and government institutions.
“HackAlem AI is an opportunity for us to bring together talent, cutting-edge technologies, and real-world economic challenges,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev.
“Our goal is to build an environment in Kazakhstan where talent, technology, and the needs of the real economy come together within a single ecosystem,” he added.
What it takes to set a Guinness World Records Title
The existing record for the most participants in an agentic AI hackathon is registered in India, where 2,089 participants took part in December 2025. HackAlem gathered up to 2,500 participants, putting the event within reach of a new record.
Guinness World Records adjudicator Glenn Pollard. Photo credit: HackAlem AI.
However, the number of participants does not determine the result. According to Glenn Pollard, an official Guinness World Records adjudicator, young developers should meet specific requirements throughout the hackathon.
“If they are absent from their workstation for more than a total of 60 minutes, they will be disqualified,’’ Pollard said.
Pollard said that while Guinness World Records adjudicators are not experts in specific fields, their role is to ensure that the established guidelines are followed.
Beyond the record itself, Pollard said the title could help Kazakhstan attract international attention to its growing potential in the field of artificial intelligence.
“I do know that in Kazakhstan, and especially here in Astana, AI is in the growth period,” Pollard said. “Having a Guinness World Records title associated with the AI hackathon will help generate both interest and awareness that Kazakhstan has an important role to play in the development of AI worldwide.”
Connecting Kazakhstan to the global AI ecosystem
The international technology component was another key feature of the event. Hackathon participants received exclusive access to technology and educational resources from OpenAI, NVIDIA and Arizona State University, with a total value of up to $1.5 million.
“The mission of Silkroad Innovation Hub is to give talent, teams, and companies from our region access to global technologies, knowledge, and partnerships,” said Asset Abdualiyev, Silkroad Innovation Hub CEO. “HackAlem AI is exactly this kind of opportunity: to create something meaningful here in the region, but with the potential to make an impact on a global scale.”
The scale of interest also extended beyond Kazakhstan. According to Abdualiyev, the event received more than 6,000 registrations.
HackAlem AI is also part of a broader effort to strengthen Kazakhstan’s role in the global AI ecosystem. The hackathon opened AI Month, a series of 20 events dedicated to AI, digital technologies, cybersecurity and technology skills across the country.
“This is a very unique opportunity for Kazakhstan to put itself on the global map and to actually make its mark and play a much more important role in global AI development,” Abdualiyev said.
What comes after the hackathon
While the Guinness World Records title remains subject to final verification, the organizers highlight the infrastructure created for HackAlem AI is intended to outlast the event itself. The platform developed for the hackathon will support future competitions, allow companies to post real-world technology challenges and give teams an opportunity to further develop promising solutions.
“HackAlem AI is more than just an event. Behind it is a technology community that has been developing in Kazakhstan for years and today brings together thousands of developers,” said Aidana Kaskyrbek, founder and CEO of Blockchain & AI Technology Center.
“That is why the legacy of today’s HackAlem AI will be not only a world record, but also an ongoing ecosystem: a community and infrastructure that will contribute to Kazakhstan’s continued technological development,” she said.
The hackathon is only the beginning of a month-long program focused on advancing Kazakhstan’s AI ecosystem. As part of AI Month, the country will host a series of events bringing together technology companies, researchers, developers and international AI leaders.
The program will also feature NVIDIA Founder and CEO Jensen Huang, who is scheduled to visit Kazakhstan on Oct. 23.
