Coupang and OpenAI Co-Host AI Grand Prix Singapore 2026

[jiaolix]

SINGAPORE, Oct. 26, 2026 — Coupang, a Seattle-based technology company serving customers in 190 countries and territories, teamed up with OpenAI to co-host the AI Grand Prix Singapore 2026, an overnight AI hackathon presented by Elev8 with Carousell Group as venue partner.

The event, held Oct. 24–25 at Carousell Campus, gathered 60 participants chosen from a pool of 150 applicants. Competitors took on individual challenges and formed 14 teams for the group challenge, pushing their technical skills, creativity and problem-solving abilities under pressure. Engagement remained strong through the night, with participants refining their solutions into the early hours.

Three Challenges, One Leaderboard

Rather than centering on a single problem statement, the AI Grand Prix used a multi-challenge format that required participants to adapt their approach as the competition unfolded. Using OpenAI Codex, they tackled:
Game Hack — building creative AI-powered games
Spot the Mismatch — a technical challenge to identify discrepancies in AI-generated product descriptions, images and prices
Group Hack — 14 teams developing AI-powered shopping experiences and solutions

Performance across all challenges was assessed collectively to determine overall rankings. Kay Hng Quek claimed the top spot with strong, consistent problem-solving across the different technical challenges, earning the Champion's Builder Kit — a Mac mini, DJI Mic 3 and Elgato Stream Deck Plus — designed to support continued experimentation as an AI builder.

A total of US$13,000 in OpenAI API credits was shared among the winners, and all participants received OpenAI subscription benefits, along with unlimited Codex usage resets during the event to encourage experimentation. The top 10 participants were scheduled to attend an exclusive networking dinner on Oct. 26 with leadership and technical representatives from Coupang and OpenAI.

"The variety of challenges encouraged us to think creatively, adapt quickly and approach problems from different perspectives," said Kay Hng Quek, overall champion of AI Grand Prix Singapore 2026. "What made the experience even more rewarding was being surrounded by talented, passionate builders who shared ideas and inspired one another."

Building the Future of Commerce With AI

"Technology and innovation are at the heart of how we create better experiences for our customers, and we see tremendous potential for AI to further transform the future of commerce," said Xin Fu, VP of Engineering at Coupang. "Singapore is home to an exciting community of engineers and researchers, and we are thrilled to co-host this event with OpenAI to provide a platform for them to come together, experiment and innovate with AI."

Derrick Choi, Head of Applied AI, Codex (APAC) at OpenAI, said: "AI is changing how software is built, giving developers new ways to accelerate the journey from concept to product. The AI Grand Prix highlighted the breadth of Singapore's developer community. It was a great opportunity to give builders a chance to try different approaches with Codex and explore how they could use it to tackle real-world problems."

The AI Grand Prix marks Coupang's first event with OpenAI and underscores its continued investment in building the future of commerce with AI, while leveraging Singapore's position at the heart of Southeast Asia's technology ecosystem.

Getting Started With OpenAI Tools

Events like the AI Grand Prix show how quickly developers can move from concept to working product when they have access to the right AI tools. For builders, students and creators who want to explore these capabilities without the full upfront cost, marketplaces such as z2u.com offer flexible options. Those looking to experiment with the underlying models can Buy OpenAI GPT-3 Access on the platform, pick up a Cheap ChatGPT Plus Account for everyday conversational and productivity use, or browse available GPT-3 Accounts for development and testing. Whether you are prototyping an AI-powered shopping experience or simply exploring what large language models can do, these options make it easier to get hands-on experience.

About Coupang

Coupang is a technology and Fortune 150 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CPNG) that provides retail, restaurant delivery, video streaming and fintech services to customers around the world under brands that include Coupang, Eats, Play, Rocket Now and Farfetch. It operates in over 190 countries and territories around the world.