Singapore, June 22, 2026 - Sea and OpenAI kicked off the inaugural Sea x OpenAI Regional Codex Hackathon series in Singapore on June 6, 2026, which brought together 144 developers and builders to explore practical applications of AI. The series is a joint initiative designed to provide hands-on opportunities for builders across the Asia Pacific to learn, experiment, and develop practical AI solutions using emerging technologies. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment between the two companies to supporting the region’s growing AI ecosystem and fostering a new generation of AI talent. The event was attended by David Chen, Co-Founder of Sea and Chief Product Officer at Shopee; Oliver Jay, Managing Director for International at OpenAI; and Thibault Sottiaux, Head of Codex at OpenAI. The Singapore edition attracted more than 1,200 applications, highlighting the strong interest in AI innovation across the region. Following a competitive selection process, 40 teams comprising 144 participants were selected to take part in the one-day hackathon.

Building AI Solutions for Real-World Challenges
Participants used Codex, OpenAI’s coding agent, to explore how emerging AI tools can help developers experiment more quickly, improve workflows, and turn ideas into practical solutions for real-world needs.

Teams developed projects across three focus areas:

• Autonomous and Adaptive AI – AI agents capable of operating with increasing levels of autonomy and adaptability.
• AI-Native Products and Operations – Solutions that place AI at the core of products and workflows.
• Deep Domain AI – Specialized applications designed to address industry-specific challenges and opportunities.

The projects showcased a wide range of applications, demonstrating how AI can help address complex challenges across industries while creating new opportunities for innovation.

Learning Through Collaboration and Experimentation
Beyond the projects developed during the event, the hackathon was designed as a hands-on learning experience that encouraged experimentation, iteration, and collaboration.

Participants explored how AI technologies can be applied responsibly and effectively to address real-world needs, while considering broader questions around user value, scalability, and long-term impact. The experience provided opportunities for builders to deepen their understanding of AI-native development while learning from peers, mentors, and industry leaders.

“Today’s hackathon is not only about building demos. It is about helping every team to think about how we should build things in the new AI era,” said David during his opening remarks. “It is about experimenting fast. It is about iterating fast. And ultimately, we want to build an AI-native culture among builders in Singapore and across Southeast Asia.”

Supporting Developer Communities Across APAC
More than a competition, the Sea × OpenAI Codex Hackathon reflects a broader effort to support developer communities and strengthen the region’s AI ecosystem. By bringing together developers, students, startups, and technology builders, the initiative creates opportunities for learning, collaboration, and community building while helping participants gain practical experience with AI technologies.

“One of the most encouraging outcomes of this hackathon was seeing the creativity and problem-solving spirit of Singapore’s developer community firsthand,” said David. “The event demonstrated how AI can help address real-world challenges when combined with a deep understanding of user needs. As AI continues to shape the digital economy, it is important that builders have opportunities to learn, collaborate, and experiment with emerging technologies. Together with OpenAI, we hope initiatives like this can bring the developer community closer together, inspire new ideas, and enable more people to create solutions that make a meaningful impact.”

The event reflects Sea and OpenAI’s broader efforts to create opportunities for builders across the region to gain hands-on experience with AI technologies, explore practical applications of AI, and contribute to the growth of the region’s AI and developer ecosystem.

Following the successful launch in Singapore, the Sea × OpenAI Regional Codex Hackathon series will later expand to Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Malaysia, continuing to support developer communities across the Asia Pacific.