A 9-year-old breaks AI coding record at 2026 bund conference

On September 9, 2026, a 9-year-old contestant won the Bund Hackathon · AI Coding Competition, which set a new Guinness World Record for the most applications developed in an online generative AI coding marathon. The event, held at the Bund Conference, attracted tens of thousands of participants, with nearly 70% under 18 and the youngest being 6 years old. Over 15,577 applications were submitted, marking a significant milestone in AI-driven mass coding. Hu Xiaowen, the Guinness World Records certification officer, highlighted the creativity of Chinese participants in shaping the AI era. The competition, organized by the Bund Conference committee and co-hosted by 11 leading AI platforms, also saw the release of the 'AI Coding Open Challenge Technical Specification.' This document aims to standardize large-scale AI coding practices. Participants ranged from children to professionals, including a doctoral student and accessibility volunteers, who used AI to turn ideas into functional applications. Li Xiang of Ant Group emphasized the shift from professional coding to broader creative participation, while Zhu Guangxiang of Baidu Xiaoda stressed the importance of accurately translating user ideas into completed projects.