Building with AI: Hackathons, Cloud, and Real Solutions

As an Information Technology student, I have always believed in learning technology by actively building things rather than limiting myself to classrooms and theory. By exploring AI, cloud technologies, IoT, software development, and hackathons, I wanted to understand how technology can genuinely address real-world problems.

Over the past few semesters, I have worked on various projects, joined hackathons, attended technical workshops, and experimented with AI-powered solutions. Each of these experiences taught me not only how to construct a solution, but also how to critically analyze the underlying problem.

One of my most memorable projects involved building a real-time campus bus tracking system with my team. By combining hardware components, real-time data feeds, and software applications, we aimed to make campus transportation tracking much more accessible and efficient.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Over time, my focus expanded from conventional software development toward Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI. I began experimenting with tools and platforms such as Google AI Studio, Gemini, and Vertex AI, fascinated by Generative AI's ability to translate natural-language interactions into practical user utilities.

Furthermore, my learning curve included cloud computing and data technologies through hands-on workshops involving Snowflake, BigQuery ML, and cloud data warehousing. This practical exposure proved that an effective AI solution relies heavily on clean data organization and accessibility, not just the model itself.

In addition to software and cloud systems, I explored hardware and IoT by experimenting with microcontrollers like ESP32 and Raspberry Pi Pico W, alongside various sensors and GPS modules. Connecting continuous physical data streams with AI interpretation opens up vast potential applications in transportation, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.

Source: Dev.to