Cognizant’s “Vibe Coding” Event Sets GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Title

Cognizant  has successfully completed its attempt for a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most participants in an online generative AI hackathon. Over a ten-day period, 53,199 Cognizant associates across 40 countries took part in a Vibe Coding event, a global initiative designed to democratize innovation and build AI fluency at scale.

An official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS adjudicator confirmed Cognizant’s achievement in the category of most participants in an online generative AI hackathon, not only achieving but smashing the previous record. In addition to the event being a world record, it also generated 30,601 ideas and working prototypes that were submitted by associates around the world. Submissions ranged from an HR wellness companion app for busy professionals, to an app that checks brand compliance and corporate identity in support of a company’s marketing efforts.

Perspectives on the Future of AI and Work

Cognizant’s record-setting event invited all associates from across the company’s business functions – HR, sales, engineering, finance, legal, marketing, delivery – to engage with AI development tools in a hands-on, collaborative environment. The “Vibe Coding Hub,” which facilitated access to vibe coding platforms from Cognizant partners Lovable, Windsurf, Cursor, Gemini Code Assist, and GitHub Copilot; housed prompt engineering tutorials; and delivered Masterclasses conducted by Cognizant AI and partner experts was – in the spirit of the event – created in 24-hours exclusively through vibe coding.

“Cognizant’s vibe coding initiative isn’t just about setting a world record, it’s about setting the pace for the AI economy,” said Ravi Kumar S., CEO, Cognizant. “We’re building a workforce where everyone has the tools to innovate with AI, not just adapt to it. Through vibe coding and the Cognizant Global Vibe Coding Community, we’re unlocking creativity at scale and empowering people to reimagine what’s possible, both inside Cognizant and for our clients across the industries we serve.”

Partners played a key role in making Cognizant’s vibe coding week, and the world record, possible. “This wasn’t just a hackathon, it was a rehearsal for the future of work," said Anton Osika, CEO and co-founder of Lovable. "Millions of people who never thought of themselves as builders are realizing they can create prototypes and products on their own. Once that door is open, there’s no going back.”

Reinforcing Leadership in the AI-Native Enterprise

While the record was set by 53,199 active participants, many of whom built their very first applications, more than 250,000 Cognizant associates registered to join the newly launched Cognizant Global Vibe Coding Community, a collaborative space to share tools, ideas, tutorials, and breakthroughs across roles and regions. This community will continue to serve as a launchpad for innovation within Cognizant and for client-facing AI solutions, reinforcing the company’s leadership in enabling an AI-native enterprise. The vibe coding initiative builds upon Cognizant’s deep commitment to drive an AI-enabled economy. The company previously committed to a $1 billion AI investment and launched Synapse, a global training initiative, which aims to upskill one million people with new digital skills including AI by the end of 2026.

Outlook

Cognizant's world record-setting event marks a significant stride in its long-term vision to build a future-ready workforce empowered by AI. By democratizing access to generative AI tools and fostering a culture of "vibe coding," the company is not only accelerating its internal innovation but also establishing a clear path for its clients to navigate the AI economy. This initiative reinforces Cognizant's commitment to its $1 billion AI investment, positioning the company as a leader in delivering AI-powered solutions at a global scale.

Explainers

• Vibe Coding: A new, intuitive, AI-assisted style of programming where a user describes their intent in natural language, and generative AI tools write, debug, and refine the code into a working prototype.

• Generative AI Hackathon: A competitive event focused on using generative AI tools to rapidly create new software, applications, or prototypes.

• AI Literacy: The understanding of how AI works, its capabilities, and how to effectively use AI tools and technologies to solve problems or create value.