Hybrid event across the Americas focuses on engineering and business challenges and supports Cognizant's frontier-certified workforce skilling strategy

Cognizant announced the completion of its Americas Codex hackathon, a hybrid event held with OpenAI in which more than 2,600 associates built solutions using OpenAI Codex. The event is a step forward in Cognizant's frontier-certified workforce skilling strategy and its broader investment in American AI-era jobs.

Cognizant has made a commitment to America's AI-era workforce: 1,500 US college graduate hires, and a goal of scaling towards a combined 15,000 Frontier Certified Engineer and Business Operator global workforce to tackle advanced enterprise AI challenges. The Codex hackathon supports that commitment in practice, building on the more than 10,500 Codex certifications Cognizant already holds as one of a select group of global partners in the OpenAI Partner Network.

Following Cognizant’s 10,000-participant Codex Hackathon in India in late July, Cognizant's Americas associates worked from hub locations including Mississauga and Halifax in Canada, Mexico City and Guadalajara in Mexico, and Dallas, Teaneck, N.J. and Mesa, Ariz. in the United States, along with associates in Brazil and Argentina, with the majority of associates joining remotely. Working individually and in teams, associates used Codex to address real engineering and business challenges drawn from their day-to-day work.

"Developing these kinds of frontier AI skills in an enterprise production context can help turn a hiring commitment into a career," said Sandra Notardonato, Global Head of Partner Development and Influencer Relations, Cognizant. "Our Codex Americas hackathon provided associates hands-on time with Codex, working on enterprise-grade challenges, and gaining the kind of frontier experience valuable for an AI-ready workforce, which Cognizant is committed to building in the United States."

Early data from the event shows close to 40 percent of participants were early-career associates, reflecting Cognizant's continued investment in hiring and developing entry-level talent in America.

"Cognizant is extending Codex to its workforce across the Americas, giving the participating associates the opportunity to build with frontier AI on real engineering and business work," said Colleen Kapase, Vice President of Strategic Global Partnerships and Ecosystems at OpenAI.. "This hackathon builds on the momentum from Cognizant's Codex hackathon in India, and reflects Cognizant's aim to translate these skills into practical solutions for enterprise customers across the Americas."

Large-scale skilling events like this are one way Cognizant is building the talent pipeline behind its public commitment to scale to 5,000 Frontier Certified Engineers and 10,000 Frontier Business Operators.