Malaysia Hosts AI Hackathon with $50K in Prizes

Forty teams of Malaysian developers, students, and tech builders will gather in Kuala Lumpur this December for a chance to turn their AI ideas into reality while competing for $50,000 in prizes.

Sea and OpenAI announced the Malaysia edition of their Regional Codex Hackathon Series, taking place December 5 at the Mandarin Oriental. Under the theme "Solving Unmet Needs with AI," participants will spend the day building practical solutions using OpenAI's advanced coding tools, including Codex and GPT-6 Astra.

The hackathon gives Malaysian talent hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI technology while addressing challenges they see in their own communities. Teams will work alongside experts from Sea and OpenAI, gaining guidance on responsible AI development and practical application.

"AI creates the most value when it is applied with purpose and shaped by a clear understanding of how people live and work," said David Chen, Co-Founder of Sea. The event directly supports Malaysia's ambition to become an AI Nation by 2030, creating opportunities for local developers to build the skills that will power that transformation.

The winning team takes home $30,000 in OpenAI API credits, with second and third place receiving $15,000 and $5,000 respectively. All top five teams will receive one year of ChatGPT Pro, giving them continued access to tools that can help develop their ideas beyond the competition.

The Ripple Effect

This hackathon is part of a larger movement across Asia Pacific. The series launched in Singapore in June and has traveled through Taiwan, with upcoming stops in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. Each event strengthens regional developer communities and demonstrates what's possible when talented builders get access to advanced tools and collaborative space.

The focus on solving unmet needs means solutions developed at the hackathon could address real challenges facing Malaysians, from healthcare access to education gaps to small business support. Registration closes November 6, giving interested participants less than a month to assemble their teams and prepare their ideas.

Malaysia's developer community is bringing its AI ambitions to life, one hackathon at a time.