In a bold global effort to advance ethical artificial intelligence, HackTheFest has launched the 2025 AI Bounty Hackathon, a 48-hour virtual challenge aimed at tackling bias and promoting fairness in AI systems.

The event, which runs from July 1 to 3, has attracted hundreds of participants from across North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, positioning it as one of the largest virtual AI security hackathons ever held.

Leading the initiative is product risk expert Rianat Abbas, a recognised figure in AI ethics. She is joined by a team of seasoned professionals, including Community Lead and Co-organiser Ifeoma Eleweke.

Others include the Technical Director of Machine Learning and Fairness Evaluation, Samuel Ajuwon; the Director of AI Fairness and Data Innovation, Oluwafemi Oloruntoba; the Lead Ethics and Policy Adviser, Idara Bassey; the Director of User Experience, Raphael Ugboko; and the Lead Cybersecurity Analyst, Eru Oghene.

“This isn’t just a competition. It is a training ground for the next generation of responsible AI talent,” Abbas said in a statement.

Participants will be required to identify, document, and mitigate algorithmic bias using advanced machine learning tools, fairness auditing frameworks, and interpretability techniques. Their submissions, including technical reports, will contribute to a growing public knowledge base on AI risk.

The hackathon has also drawn over 30 global judges and mentors from leading organisations such as OpenAI, Google, MetaAI, Nvidia, Amazon, Workday, Visa, and SnapChat, all bringing expertise in AI safety and algorithmic accountability.

According to the organisers, top submissions will be published in an open-access AI Risk Repository to support developers, educators, and institutions working towards ethical AI deployment.

“We are not just testing code. We are shaping a movement to ensure AI serves all of society, not just a privileged few,” Bassey stated.

With entries from over 20 countries and support from academic institutions, tech policy experts, and fairness advocates, HackTheFest is building momentum as a global platform for rethinking how AI can better serve humanity.