IBM AI Builders Challenge with IBM Bob
IBM SkillsBuild
📌About the Event
The IBM AI Builders Challenge with IBM Bob is a global virtual innovation competition for college and university students. Sponsored by IBM SkillsBuild, the challenge enables participants to create practical, portfolio-ready AI solutions using IBM Bob, IBM’s AI-powered development partner. Students can participate in monthly hackathon challenges, complete hands-on learning activities, connect with developers through GitHub and Discord, and showcase their projects to IBM experts and a global audience.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Mode of conduct: Completely online.
- Challenge period: July to August 2026.
- Learning conference: A virtual AI Builders Conference will be conducted in September 2026.
- Participants can compete:
- Individually
- In teams of up to five members
- Participants must develop a working AI prototype or proof of concept using IBM Bob as the primary development tool.
- Additional IBM technologies such as watsonx, Granite, LangFlow and Docling may also be used.
- The programme includes:
- Monthly AI hackathons
- IBM SkillsBuild learning activities
- GitHub-based project development
- Webinars and educational resources
- Developer communities on GitHub and Discord
📅 Important Dates
- July challenge submission deadline: July 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- August challenge commencement: August 1, 2026.
- August challenge submission deadline: August 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- Overall competition period: July 1 to August 31, 2026.
- AI Builders Conference with IBM Bob: September 16, 2026.
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Who can participate:
- Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
- Applicants must be enrolled at an institution of higher education, including:
- Universities
- Colleges
- Community colleges
- Technical or vocational schools
- Institutes of technology
- Undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students may participate.
- Students from computer science, engineering, data science and related technical fields are encouraged to apply.
- Students from business, design, marketing and other academic backgrounds who are interested in AI may also participate.
- Participants must register individually on the official event platform.
- Solo participation is permitted.
- Teams can have a minimum of one and a maximum of five members.
- Indian students who meet the stated age, enrolment and legal eligibility requirements can participate.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- Total prize pool: USD 15,000.
- Prizes offered for each monthly challenge include:
- First Place: USD 2,250
- Runner-Up: USD 1,250
- Most Innovative Use of IBM Bob: USD 750
- Best Technical Use of IBM Bob: USD 750
- Grand Prize: USD 5,000 for one outstanding project selected across both monthly challenges.
- Participants can also benefit from:
- Recognition from IBM
- Opportunities to showcase their work to a global audience
- Portfolio-ready AI projects
- Hands-on experience with IBM AI technologies
- IBM SkillsBuild learning certificates
- Access to webinars, learning labs and developer resources
- Interaction with fellow students and developers through GitHub and Discord