Welcome Address:
The event began with a welcome address by Dr. S. Jayakumar, Controller of Examinations, who highlighted the hackathon as a platform for creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and learning. He encouraged participants to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, explore emerging technologies, and create practical solutions to real-world problems. Emphasizing the impact of Artificial Intelligence across various fields, he described the hackathon as an opportunity to showcase technical skills and innovation. And also He announced the hackathon dates as 23rd and 24th January 2026 and warmly welcomed all participants, setting an inspiring tone for the event.
Honouring the Chief Guest
Felicitation Address:
The felicitation address was delivered by Shri. D. Rajarajan, Treasurer of SMVET, He extended a warm welcome to the gathering. In his address, he highlighted the transformative impact of Generative AI in reshaping industries, education, and entrepreneurship. He emphasized that AI is no longer a concept of science fiction but a powerful reality capable of revolutionizing customer service, automation, and business operations, especially benefiting startups and small-scale enterprises. also, He spoke about India’s strong digital infrastructure, which positions the nation to leverage AI-driven innovation effectively. Concluding his speech, he encouraged participants to actively engage in the AI Ignite Hackathon and expressed hope that new ideas and startups would emerge from this initiative.
Presidential Address:
The presidential address was delivered by Shri. M. Dhanasekaran, Chancellor of Takshashila University, Tindivanam, and Chairman & Managing Director of SMVET. In his insightful speech, he illustrated the remarkable evolution of animation and graphics, explaining how processes that once required years of work and thousands of artists can now be achieved effortlessly with the help of Artificial Intelligence. He emphasized that AI has become a powerful tool that simplifies, enhances, and accelerates creative and educational processes. Highlighting its growing role in education, he encouraged exploring innovative ways to integrate AI into teaching, learning, and training to shape a smarter and more efficient academic environment.
Unveiling the AI Ignite Logo
The highlight of the event was the official unveiling the AI Ignite logo, symbolizing innovation, intelligence, and the spirit of technological advancement. The logo represents the launch of India’s first agentic AI hackathon, marking the beginning of a nationwide initiative to inspire creativity and groundbreaking solutions in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
Release of AI Ignite – National Gen AI Hackathon Proceedings
Following the logo unveiling, the proceedings of AI Ignite – National Gen AI Hackathon were officially released. The proceedings highlight the objectives, themes, and problem statements of the hackathon, showcasing the vision to promote innovation and research in Generative AI across the nation. This release marks a significant step toward empowering students and innovators to develop impactful AI-driven solutions for real-world challenges.
Chief Guest Address:
The Chief Guest Delivered by Mr. Jothi Periasamy Chief Data Scientist, Harvard University, delivered an insightful and interactive session on the power of Agentic Artificial Intelligence and its real-world applications. He demonstrated how AI agents can autonomously perform complex tasks using natural language, eliminating the need for coding or manual programming. Through live demonstrations, he explained the concepts of Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), and Model Context Protocol (MCP), emphasizing their role in intelligent automation and human–AI collaboration.
He also elaborated on advanced AI mechanisms such as Guardrails, Human Feedback Loops, and LLM-as-a-Judge, highlighting how these frameworks ensure responsible, accurate, and adaptive AI systems. His session encouraged students to think beyond traditional programming and focus on building intelligent, self-learning AI agents capable of solving real-world challenges in domains like healthcare, education, and agriculture — the core themes of the AI Ignite Hackathon.
Website Launch:
As part of the event, the official website for AI Ignite – National Gen AI Hackathon was launched, serving as a digital platform for participants across the nation to register, access hackathon details, and explore problem statements. The website aims to connect innovators, students, and industry experts, fostering collaboration and showcasing India’s growing potential in the field of Generative Artificial Intelligence.
Vote of Thanks:
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. R. Raju, Professor and Head, Department of Information Technology. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the dignitaries, chief guest, faculty members, and students for their active participation and contribution to the success of the event. He also extended special thanks to the organizers and volunteers for their dedicated efforts in making the AI Ignite – National Gen AI Hackathon kick-off a memorable and inspiring occasion.
