Build with AI 2026 aivancity x google: A Student-Led Account of the First Edition

Saturday, April 4, 2026 – A inaugural event that sets the tone

From the very start of the day, a sense of teamwork takes hold on the aivancity Paris-Villejuif campus. Students organize themselves into teams and quickly take their places at their workstations.

The energy is immediate, well-structured, and action-oriented. There’s no indication that this is a first edition.

Launch of the challenge

The goal is clear: to design, in just one day, an AI-based solution capable of tangibly improving daily life in aivancity.

Forty-five students from PGE1, PGE2, and PGE3 split into teams. The initial discussions begin, and ideas quickly emerge, rooted directly in real-world applications.

Project Structure

Very quickly, the teams move into the development phase. The challenges become clearer, use cases are defined, and the initial architectures take shape.

What stands out at this stage is the students’ ability to turn an idea into a solution. The approach is pragmatic and impact-driven.

A steady intensity

As the day goes on, the pace doesn't let up. Discussions continue, projects take shape, and prototypes come to life.

The teams are fine-tuning their demonstrations, structuring their pitches, and testing their solutions. A collective sense of urgency is gradually taking hold.

Project Overview

At the end of the day, the teams present their projects to the jury. The proposals all share the same goal: to simplify and improve the student experience.

Five projects stand out in particular for their relevance and potential for implementation:

• DayFlow, focused on daily organization and time management
• AivaAssist, a smart assistant designed for aivancity students
• Pappers, a solution for streamlining administrative procedures
• Fluid-Sync, a platform for sharing resources among students
• Aivancity Hub, a central hub for student life

These projects demonstrate a deep understanding of the campus’s needs and the ability to provide concrete solutions within a limited timeframe.

A transformative student initiative

This hackathon originated as a student initiative. Christina Tahan and Victoria C. Alajemba led the project from the very beginning, working closely with Google, which provided financial and organizational support.

This approach set the tone for the day and largely explains the level of engagement observed.

Beyond the projects that have been developed, this day reveals a deeper dynamic: that of a campus where students take the initiative, experiment, and build.

I had the opportunity to communicate regularly with the organizers. Their attention to detail and organizational skills are truly commendable. I encouraged them to make this a long-term event.

This hackathon has the potential to become a defining event for aivancity.