Microsoft and Qualcomm Launch Global Edge AI Hackathon Series Showcasing Windows ML and Snapdragon X Elite PCs

Microsoft and Qualcomm are teaming up for a global Edge AI hackathon series, spotlighting Windows ML—a powerful runtime for on-device AI. With Snapdragon X Elite-powered PCs and optimized lightweight models, developers can build efficient, privacy-focused AI apps running directly on devices. Unique :

Bringing AI to the Edge: Microsoft and Qualcomm’s New Hackathon

Microsoft is teaming up with Qualcomm Technologies for a global Edge AI hackathon series. The first event kicks off June 14-15 in Bangalore, focusing on pushing AI development directly onto devices.

What’s New: Windows ML and Edge AI

Windows ML is Microsoft’s latest runtime designed for on-device AI model inference. It supports everything from entry-level laptops to high-end AI workstations. The platform smartly leverages client silicon—whether that’s an NPU, GPU, or CPU—to optimize performance and power efficiency.

“Windows ML is built to help developers leverage the client silicon best suited for their specific workload on any given device.”

This means AI apps can run locally with faster response times, better privacy, and less cloud dependency. The hackathon encourages developers to explore these possibilities, building hybrid AI apps that blend cloud and edge computing.

Major Updates: Collaboration and Tools

Microsoft and Qualcomm’s partnership is a game changer. They’ve integrated Snapdragon X Elite-powered Windows laptops with powerful NPUs, enabling efficient AI inferencing on-device. Microsoft Research optimized lightweight large language models (LLMs) like Phi Silica specifically for Qualcomm’s Hexagon NPU.

Additionally, Microsoft’s DeepSeek R1 models are now accessible via Azure AI Foundry, expanding the AI ecosystem on edge devices. Windows AI Foundry supports both built-in and custom models, enhancing developer flexibility.

“This collaboration marks a significant step in democratizing AI by making powerful, efficient models accessible on everyday devices.”

Developers can also use the Olive toolchain—an open-source model optimization tool contributed by Qualcomm—to streamline AI model deployment and boost inference efficiency.

Why It Matters: Real-World Impact and Developer Opportunities

Top independent developers like Powder, Topaz Labs, Camo, and McAfee are already leveraging Windows ML to power AI features. The hackathon invites developers of all stripes—whether building smart assistants or experimenting with small language models—to join and innovate.

With the rise of AI-capable hardware, this event is a prime opportunity to rethink app design for productivity, creativity, and intelligent agents running directly on devices.

Get Involved

Interested developers can register for the hackathon and access extensive resources, including AI Toolkit, documentation, and code samples on Microsoft Learn. This is your chance to build next-gen AI apps optimized for edge computing.

Learn more and register here: Qualcomm Edge AI Developer Hackathon

Windows ML supports diverse hardware, from entry-level laptops to AI workstations, optimizing AI workloads on CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs.

Microsoft Research optimized lightweight large language models like Phi Silica for efficient on-device execution using Hexagon NPUs.

Qualcomm contributed to the open-source Olive toolchain, enhancing AI model optimization for client-side inference on Snapdragon platforms.

Windows AI Foundry offers built-in and custom AI models, enabling seamless AI development across hardware architectures.

Top ISVs like Powder, Topaz Labs, Camo, and McAfee are already leveraging Windows ML for advanced AI features on edge devices.

From the New blog articles in Microsoft Community Hub