BOULDER –– In alignment with United Nations Human Rights Day, Call for Code has announced the winners of its 2024 Global Challenge, highlighting innovative AI-powered solutions addressing equitable access to essential resources and opportunities. The initiative, founded by David Clark Cause in partnership with IBM, United Nations Human Rights, and the Linux Foundation, celebrates developers and problem solvers who leverage technology to drive social impact.

Winning Teams and Innovations

Grand Prize Winner: GoBang
A team of students from Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan won the top prize for creating a platform that tackles educational inequality. Using IBM watsonx.ai, they developed a customizable AI dashboard for educators, offering tools like lesson plans and worksheets tailored to under-resourced schools. As the highest-scoring university team, they also received a $30,000 university grant, job opportunities at IBM, and mentorship support.

First Runner-Up: KindThreads
Developed by a team from Persistent, KindThreads is an AI-powered platform that transforms clothing waste into essential resources and income opportunities for local communities. The app uses IBM watsonx.ai Prompt Lab to assess clothing items and provide recommendations for reuse, recycling, or donation based on their condition. The team received $25,000 for their efforts.

Second Runner-Up: T-Chai
T-Chai is an AI-driven homework tutor designed to assist underserved families. Built on IBM watsonx.ai and the IBM Granite language model, the application adapts its responses to a student’s age and learning level while offering resources to parents. The team earned $10,000 and recognition for their impactful solution.

Recognizing Global Impact

David Clark, founder and CEO of Call for Code, emphasized the importance of equitable access, calling it “a cornerstone of human rights rooted in equality, dignity, and fairness.” Kate Woolley, General Manager of IBM Ecosystem, applauded the participants, noting how IBM’s watsonx and Granite models demonstrate the power of technology in driving global change.

Anwar Mahfoudh, Chief of the Innovation and Analytics Hub at UN Human Rights, added, “These solutions inspire hope and reaffirm our shared commitment to justice and equality.”

Ecosystem Engagement Award

Persistent earned the 2024 Call for Code Ecosystem Engagement Award for its sustained support and innovation within the initiative. As a Gold Sponsor, Persistent hosted a Global Challenge Kickoff event, inspiring 11 teams to submit projects. Their contributions underscore the value of corporate participation in solving global challenges.

Launched in 2018, Call for Code has mobilized developers from over 180 countries to tackle global issues such as disaster response and climate change. The program offers participants the tools and expertise to build solutions with technologies like IBM watsonx, Red Hat OpenShift, and IBM Cloud. Recognized as a platform for innovation, Call for Code continues to drive meaningful change worldwide.