KUCHING – Kuching will host the inaugural Sarawak–Singapore Friendship AI Vibe Design Hackathon on 6 September, uniting 40 innovators—30 local students and 10 internationals from Taiwan, Belarus, Canada, the United States and Singapore—in a half-day design sprint.
Co-organised by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak and Singapore’s AI Visionary Society, the event aims to fuse artificial intelligence with cultural creativity.
The hackathon introduces AI Vibe Design, an emerging approach that prioritises emotional resonance in digital experiences.
Participants will collaborate in teams of four at Makeramai Makerspace under the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation, using tools such as Lovart AI and Newhero AI to craft interactive art, narratives and prototypes.
Organisers say the format encourages cross-border partnerships, reflecting Sarawak’s diverse heritage and Singapore’s tech ecosystem.
“Design is in the DNA of Sarawakians. I was inspired when the Premier of Sarawk talked about AI not just being a technology, but also how it benefits the people,” said Soh Wan Wei, founder of the AI Visionary Society, during her visit to the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex and Tegas Digital Village.
AZAM Sarawak CEO Ali Suhaili highlighted the hackathon as a springboard for global market opportunities.
“We want to provide an opportunity for Sarawakian children to showcase their creativity using AI, thus penetrating the international market. Next year, we plan to organise it in Miri with a larger participation of around 60 participants,” he said.
TEGAS CEO Udin Bujang welcomed future collaborations at Tegas Digital Village, noting Soh’s interest in leveraging its labs and mentorship programmes.
Deputy Minister Datuk Abdullah Saidol and UKAS Deputy Director Mohamed Faizal Shah Ali also attended the briefing, underscoring the state’s push to nurture homegrown tech talent.
