Coupang and OpenAI co-hosted the AI Grand Prix Singapore 2026 hackathon, an overnight event that brought together 60 participants.
Held at Carousell Campus, the competition drew entrants from a pool of 150 applicants. Participants completed individual challenges and formed 14 teams for a group challenge, with rankings based on overall performance across the tasks.
Instead of focusing on a single problem, the hackathon was structured as a multi-challenge contest. Entrants used OpenAI Codex to complete three assignments: Game Hack, in which they built AI-based games; Spot the Mismatch, which involved finding inconsistencies in AI-generated product descriptions, images and prices; and Group Hack, where teams developed AI-based shopping experiences and solutions.
Kay Hng Quek won the overall title after organisers cited his consistent performance across the challenges. He received a first-place prize package including a Mac mini, a DJI Mic 3 and an Elgato Stream Deck Plus.
Winners shared USD $13,000 in OpenAI API credits. All participants also received OpenAI subscription benefits, and unlimited Codex usage resets were available during the event.
Winner's response
Kay Hng Quek described the event as a demanding but rewarding test of adaptability.
"AI Grand Prix was an incredible opportunity to push myself beyond my comfort zone and explore what's possible with AI. The variety of challenges encouraged us to think creatively, adapt quickly and approach problems from different perspectives. What made the experience even more rewarding was being surrounded by talented, passionate builders who shared ideas and inspired one another. I'm grateful to have been part of such an exciting community, and especially for Jerel, my cofounder, who brings out the best in me," said Kay Hng Quek, Overall Champion of AI Grand Prix Singapore 2026.
The event was the first collaboration of its kind between Coupang and OpenAI. It reflected Coupang's broader interest in applying artificial intelligence to commerce and engaging with Singapore's technology community.
Commerce focus
Xin Fu, Vice President of Engineering at Coupang, linked the event to the company's work on customer-facing services.
"Technology and innovation are at the heart of how we create better experiences for our customers, and we see tremendous potential for AI to further transform the future of commerce. Singapore is home to an exciting community of engineers and researchers, and we are thrilled to co-host this event with OpenAI to provide a platform for them to come together, experiment and innovate with AI," said Xin Fu, Vice President of Engineering at Coupang.
OpenAI said the contest gave developers a chance to test how AI tools can be used in practical settings. It pointed to the range of participants and the focus on real-world problem-solving during the overnight session.
"AI is changing how software is built, giving developers new ways to accelerate the journey from concept to product. The AI Grand Prix highlighted the breadth of Singapore's developer community. It was a great opportunity to give builders a chance to try different approaches with Codex and explore how they could use it to tackle real-world problems," said Choi.
Coupang, based in Seattle, operates retail, restaurant delivery, video streaming and fintech businesses. It serves customers in 190 countries and territories, and used the Singapore event to connect with engineers and researchers in Southeast Asia.