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.