{
  "id": 17043330,
  "title": "Is it a hackathon or a happy hour? Yes.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/is-it-a-hackathon-or-a-happy-hour-yes",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-29T09:26:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/events-to-learn-ai-hackathons-replace-happy-hour-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "AI After 5 is a group hosting events to learn AI skills in a social setting, catering to the need for in-person connections post-Covid. Workers are moving away from traditional happy hours to these more casual, group-style gatherings, where they can practice AI applications and avoid the typical awkward networking scenarios. These events range from AI agent building workshops to fitness classes tailored for specific industry founders. The demand for such events is driven by the growing need for AI skills, as companies are struggling to find talent and job seekers are eager to learn and stand out. Participants find these events more engaging and informative than traditional networking, as they allow for hands-on learning and direct interaction with others facing similar challenges. The format is designed to be fun and educational, reminiscent of childhood parallel play, where individuals experiment and solve problems together. This approach aims to make AI more accessible and less intimidating, addressing the concerns of non-technical employees who fear being left behind in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. These \"unpolished\" gatherings reflect a trend towards authenticity, providing a space where people can admit their need for help and learn from each other's experiences and use cases.",
  "summary": "Fatigue with work happy hours and a need to learn new tech skills are driving an interest in hackathon-style events.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}