Inside the Man vs. Machine Hackathon

image via WIRED

September 9, 2025, 4:00 PM

• •The hackathon, "Man vs. Machine," tested whether AI tools help people code faster and better.
• •Teams were randomly assigned to use either AI-supported or human-only coding methods.
• •The winning team, using AI, received a $12,500 cash prize, while second place (human-only) earned $2,500.
• •The event revealed the increasing advantage of AI in coding tasks, with many participants acknowledging the edge of "Man plus machine."

At a San Francisco hackathon, teams competed to build projects using either AI tools or human coding. The event, dubbed "Man vs. Machine," aimed to assess AI's impact on coding speed and quality, with judges evaluating creativity, usefulness, technical impressiveness, and execution. Despite initial doubts and a preference for human-led teams, the ultimate winner utilized AI, showcasing the technology's growing dominance in the field. The hackathon highlighted the evolving dynamics between human coders and AI, with the consensus being "Man plus machine has the edge."

Read original article