The SQL + AI Datathon puts SQL at the center of the architecture.

You’ll learn how to:

• Use SQL as a reliable, secure data source for AI workloads
• Implement RAG (Retrieval‑Augmented Generation) so AI responses are grounded in your data
• Build AI experiences that scale from prototypes to real applications

Who Should Participate?

The SQL + AI Datathon is designed for:

• Developers curious about AI
• Developers building AI applications with real data
• Anyone interested in trying out the new AI Features in SQL Server 2025
• Any beginner thinking about how to get started with data powered AI applications for free

Learn Along the Way with the Reactor Series

To help you succeed, the Datathon is supported by a livestream series that walks through each mission step‑by‑step. These sessions cover environment setup, core SQL + AI concepts, and practical implementation tips aligned with the Datathon missions.

Whether you attend live or watch the recordings, the series is designed to reduce friction and help you move from idea to implementation faster.

How the Datathon Works

The Datathon is structured around four guided missions, each building on the last. Together, they take you from foundational concepts to a complete SQL + AI application. Choose Python or C#, use a provided dataset, and build everything in a developer friendly workflow on GitHub.

Mission 1: Embeddings & Semantic Search

Learn how to generate embeddings, store them in a table, and implement semantic and vector search to retrieve relevant data based on meaning.

Mission 2: Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG)

Combine retrieval with AI models to generate responses that are accurate, contextual, and grounded in your database.

Mission 3: AI Workflows

Orchestrate workflows using notebooks and lightweight agent patterns, treating queries as tools in an AI pipeline.

Mission 4: Full Application

Bring everything together by building a simple full‑stack application that exposes data through APIs and integrates AI‑powered experiences.

Join the Open Hack

Take part in an Open Hack add your own creative twist to be eligible for judging for a ticket to SQLCon 2026!

You’ll choose one project type, using SQL Server 2025, or Azure SQL Database as your data source:

• RAG‑Based Chatbot Agent Build a chatbot that answers questions by retrieving data before generating a response.
• Semantic Search Tool Create a natural language search experience backed by embeddings, with AI‑generated summaries of results.

Ready to Build?

Explore the Datathon repository, join the Reactor sessions, and start building intelligent apps powered by SQL.