What happens when AI technology is no longer just a tool, but an assistant that can solve problems on its own, adapt to unexpected situations, and enhance overall operations?
That’s the challenge Sea and OpenAI are posing to developers, students, startups, and technology builders through the Regional Sea x OpenAI Codex hackathon, kicking off June 6 in Singapore.
The first stop in the regional initiative, this day-long event creates an opportunity for talented builders and AI developers to compete with their ideas, creativity, and coding skills to push boundaries and come up with innovative production-grade AI applications.
More than 150 developers and AI builders will participate and work on more than 40 projects exploring practical AI applications and solutions. Using Codex, OpenAI’s AI-powered coding solution, participants will explore how new AI tools can help developers experiment faster, improve workflows, and turn ideas into practical solutions for real-world needs.
The winning team will receive up to US$30,000 (S$38,000) in OpenAI API credits, and members of the top five teams will receive additional prizes, including a ChatGPT Pro subscription.
The first regional OpenAI hackathon to be held within the Asia-Pacific region represents the commitment of both Sea and OpenAI to build Southeast Asia’s AI ecosystem by nurturing and empowering AI builders in the region. Following Singapore, the hackathon series will be expanded to additional markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
“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,” said David Chen, Chief Product Officer at Shopee.
According to Thibault Sottiaux, head of Codex at OpenAI, Sea is adopting Codex across its internal software development workflows as part of a broader effort to expand AI-native engineering practices within the organization.
“We are excited to collaborate with Sea on our first regional hackathon series to expand access to Codex across APAC and support the next generation of developers and builders in the region,” said Sottiaux.
The regional Sea x OpenAI Codex hackathon will be held at the Shopee Building at Singapore Science Park.
Photo: sea
The hackathon also builds on a collaboration between the two companies, who have partnered to bring ChatGPT to Shopee customers as part of a broader effort to make AI tools more accessible.
The Regional Sea x OpenAI Codex hackathon, which will be held at the Science Park’s Shopee building, will focus on three directions. Building autonomous and adaptive AI agents that can operate without human supervision and reliably handle unforeseen problems. Develop AI-native products and operations that are fundamentally shaped by AI, rather than just using AI as an add-on. We then build deep-domain AI that includes deep understanding of specific areas, not just general functionality. Projects can address one or more of these issues or span multiple issues. Attendees will also receive on-site support and guidance from OpenAI experts during the event.
This hackathon is designed to bring out the best minds and is aimed at seasoned builders who are familiar with AI coding tools and shipping production-grade code. Participants must join teams of 3-4 members and up to 40 teams will be shortlisted based on the quality of their applications.
Attendees can come with ideas, but the day-long event requires all construction to be done from scratch on-site. Judges will evaluate submissions on problem framing, build quality, depth of thinking, and how effectively they leveraged Codex in the build process.
Applications for the hackathon will open on May 11th and end on May 28th. Teams will be judged and shortlisted based on their technical background, build plan, and how well it aligns with the build direction. Successful applicants will be notified on June 1st.
The hackathon itself will be held on June 6th from 8:30am to 9pm at 5 Science Park Drive, Shopee Building, Singapore 118265. All team members are required to attend the day-long event or risk disqualification.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided. Participants must bring their own devices and chargers. However, basic facilities such as tables, chairs and power sockets will be provided. Details regarding tool setup will be published at the event.
Event details:
Date: June 6, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Venue: Shopee Building, 5 Science Park Drive, Singapore 118265
Registration is now open and ends on May 28, 2026. Sea and OpenAI invite developers, students, entrepreneurs, and AI enthusiasts to join us and contribute their ideas to help shape the future of AI-powered innovation.
Click here for more information and registration details.
