If you’ve been following along with the AI Genius Series, you already know we’ve been on a journey, one filled with learning, experimentation, and discovery. We’ve explored the power of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), dived into Copilot deployment, and unlocked the potential of Azure’s AI ecosystem. But now, it’s time to take all that knowledge and put it into action.

Now, after popular demand, I’m pleased to launch the AI Genius Challenge.  A fast-paced, hands-on virtual hackathon designed to test your skills, stretch your thinking, and ignite your creativity from everything you have learned in the series.

What is the AI Genius Challenge?

Think of it as the ultimate sandbox for developers. You’ll be dropped into a high-stakes scenario: a global zero-day cyberattack has compromised critical infrastructure. You’re the designated hero. Your mission? Use what you’ve learned to restore order, fast.

You’ll build real-world solutions using Azure tools like AI Studio, Kubernetes, and Databases. You’ll deploy a public RAG endpoint, monitored and evaluated in real time by AI agents. And you’ll do it all under pressure, with just two hours on the clock.

This isn’t just a test. It’s a proving ground.

Why Join?

Because we know developers are doers. We learn by building, by breaking things, and by solving problems that matter. The AI Genius Challenge is your chance to:

• Learn your way: Unlock a gamified lab environment that lets you apply your skills in a real-world scenario.
• Test your skills: Compete against peers across Asia in a timed challenge with live scoring and AI-powered feedback.
• Expand your ideas: Build tools that work, validate your theories, and refine your approach with real-time insights.
• Prove your ability: Earn your LinkedIn AI Genius Challenger badge to showcase your AI Genius credentials.

And if you didn’t join the live sessions – no problem.  You can watch back all of the series on demand here AI Genius Series – YouTube (top tip – you might want to focus on Session and Session 6 in preparation for the Challenge!).

How It Works

One June 17, you’ll gain access to interactive workbooks that guide you through the challenge. You’ll be evaluated on accuracy, efficiency, and execution—every 20 seconds, your endpoint will be tested against a secret source-of-truth.

You’ll register via the Microsoft AI Genius Challenge page and receive your login credentials directly from our partner platform.

The challenge is designed to be completed in 90 minutes, with a 30-minute grace period. And yes, there’s a leaderboard, because what’s a challenge without a little friendly competition?

What’s Next?

This is more than a one-off event. It’s part of our broader commitment to providing meaningful, hands-on AI skilling opportunities for developers. The AI Genius Challenge is the culmination of the series, but it’s also the beginning of something bigger: a growing community of builders, innovators, and advocates who are shaping the future of AI on Azure.

So, are you ready to prove you’re an AI Genius?

👉 Visit Microsoft AI Genius Challenge | Microsoft Reactor and join us on June 17.

Resources

• Missed a session? No problem! You can catch up here: https://aka.ms/On-demandAIGeniusSeries  
• Azure AI Discord: https://aka.ms/AzureAI/Discord
• Generative AI for beginners: https://aka.ms/genai-beginners
• AI Agents for beginners: https://aka.ms/ai-agents-beginners
• Build AI Tour open content: https://aka.ms/aitour/repos
• Learn content collection: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/collections/j06of1wx0887g7