- Turning Level 3 AI expertise into real-world impact The 2026 3E AI Hackathon brought together standout projects from the Level 3 AI Certification Program, recognizing employees who transformed advanced AI skills into practical, production-relevant solutions. Rather than building experimental concepts specifically for a competition, participants entered solutions developed through their Level 3 capstone work—putting the emphasis on real business problems, measurable value, and responsible AI implementation. - What It Takes to Become a Finalist Projects were first reviewed by 3E Technology leadership as part of the Level 3 certification process. The strongest submissions were selected to advance to the Hackathon based on: Practical Application — solving meaningful, real-world problems Business Impact — demonstrating tangible value and usability Technical Quality — applying strong engineering and AI practices Project Completeness — delivering a working, well-documented solution Finalists then presented their solutions live before a cross-functional leadership jury representing Technology and Product, demonstrating how their AI solutions work and the value they create. - 2026 Award Categories Five distinctions recognized the strongest projects and contributions: 🥇 1st Place — Overall top-ranked solution 🥈 2nd Place — Second-highest ranked solution 🥉 3rd Place — Third-highest ranked solution 🏆 Jury’s Choice — Outstanding project recognized by the judging panel 🗳️ People’s Choice — Favorite project selected through audience Voting - What This Badge Represents Recipients of a 2026 3E AI Hackathon Winner badge have gone beyond demonstrating AI knowledge. Their work was selected from Level 3 projects, advanced through leadership review, presented in a live competitive demo, and recognized for its ability to apply AI to meaningful business challenges. The badge represents innovation, practical AI application, technical execution, and demonstrated business impact at 3E.