Ateneo Math students dominate BPI AI Hackathon with award-winning solutions

Eight students from the BS Applied Mathematics - Masters in Data Science (BS AMDSc) program secured top awards at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Data, Analytics, Transformation, and AI (D.A.T.A.) Wave Hackathon, which concluded on October 1 at the AIM Conference Center. The teams stood out in a nationwide competition designed to foster Filipino talent in data science and artificial intelligence.

Seniors Rasheed Albel, Deanne Gabrielle Algenio, Vince Dexter Ang, and Arabella Isles of Team Data Bankers clinched first place in the "Workplace Productivity and the Future of Work" category. Their winning solution, BPAi: Business Process Automation Intelligence, is a smart AI platform designed to revolutionize the high-volume loan application process by using machine learning for exceptional speed, accuracy, and transparency.

Juniors Jharlyn Mae Alejo, Dallin Ivan Andrada, Rolen Jan Muaña, and Matt Pacis of Team QED earned third place in the "Hyperpersonalization and Customization" track with their project, Pathwise. Their innovation uses AI-powered, story-driven simulations to transform abstract financial goals into a clear, personalized roadmap, making financial planning more intuitive and accessible.

The winning teams demonstrated innovation in tackling critical challenges in institutional banking efficiency and individual financial planning. Their solutions leveraged artificial intelligence, from machine learning models to narrative-driven simulations, demonstrating technical proficiency and a sharp insight into the evolving needs of the modern financial landscape.

The BPI DATA Wave, a three-month long competition, brought together hundreds of university students, fresh graduates, and young professionals to build functional prototypes that solve real-world problems. As part of the program, participating teams were enrolled in a 3-day learning sprint, with finalists later selected based on detailed video submissions, technical papers, and presentations. The final winners were chosen by a panel of judges from BPI, Eskwelabs, and partner organizations. This event is a key part of BPI's initiative to enhance the skills of Filipinos in the critical fields of data science and AI.