JavaScript AI Build-a-thon Season 2: Closing the AI Development Gap

The JavaScript AI Build-a-thon is back for Season 2, launching March 2, 2026. This free, four-week program addresses a critical gap in the AI development ecosystem: while JavaScript/TypeScript powers millions of applications daily, most AI learning resources assume Python expertise, leaving JavaScript developers struggling to integrate AI into their existing workflows.

Why This Matters for JavaScript Developers

Every day, billions of users interact with applications built on JavaScript and TypeScript. Yet when developers want to add AI capabilities, they're often forced to abandon their familiar stack and learn an entirely new ecosystem. The JavaScript AI Build-a-thon eliminates this barrier by teaching AI development using the tools and languages developers already know.

This isn't just about convenience—it's about productivity. JavaScript developers can now build sophisticated AI applications without context switching between languages, frameworks, and development environments. The program demonstrates that you can create production-ready AI solutions while staying in your comfort zone.

Program Structure: Two-Phase Learning Journey

The Build-a-thon is organized into two distinct phases designed to take participants from foundational concepts to production-ready applications.

Phase I: Learn & Skill Up (March 2-13)

The first two weeks focus on hands-on learning through self-paced quests and expert-led sessions. Each session includes both a livestream and Discord office hours for interactive learning:

• Local AI Development with Foundry Local (March 2): Learn to run AI models entirely on-device, eliminating cloud dependencies and reducing latency
• End-to-End Model Development on Microsoft Foundry (March 4): Explore the full model development lifecycle using Microsoft's AI platform
• Advanced RAG Deep Dive + Guided Project (March 6): Master Retrieval Augmented Generation with practical implementation
• Design & Build an Agent E2E with Agent Builder (AITK) (March 9): Create intelligent agents that can reason and act autonomously
• Build, Scale & Govern AI Agents + Guided Project (March 11): Learn production deployment patterns for AI agents

By the end of Phase I, participants complete two guided projects:

1. Local Serverless AI Chat with RAG: A practical application covering RAG architecture, ingestion pipelines, query retrieval, response generation, and LangChain.js integration
2. Burger Ordering AI Agent: An e-commerce agent demonstrating MCP tools, backend API design, and the Model Context Protocol

Phase II: Global Hack! (March 13-31)

The final three weeks transform learning into creation. Participants apply their new skills in a global hackathon, building AI-powered solutions that solve real problems. The hackathon features:

• Product demo showcases highlighting the latest AI development tools
• Team collaboration (up to 4 members) or solo participation
• Six award categories recognizing different aspects of AI development excellence
• Opportunities to create portfolio-worthy projects that demonstrate practical AI capabilities

What You'll Build and Learn

The program covers the complete AI development spectrum:

Local AI Development: Run models directly on user devices for privacy, offline functionality, and reduced latency. This approach is increasingly important as edge computing gains traction and privacy regulations tighten.

RAG Implementation: Learn to augment large language models with your own data through retrieval augmented generation. This technique enables AI applications to provide accurate, context-specific responses based on proprietary information.

AI Agent Architecture: Design and build autonomous agents that can plan, reason, and execute tasks. The program covers agent builders, tool integration, and governance patterns for production deployments.

Model Context Protocol (MCP): Understand how AI agents communicate with external systems and APIs, enabling sophisticated multi-service applications.

Community and Support

The Build-a-thon emphasizes community learning through multiple channels:

• Foundry Discord: Dedicated #js-ai-build-a-thon channel for office hours, live Q&A, and community support
• GitHub Discussions: Platform for sharing ideas, finding teammates, and asking technical questions
• Social Engagement: Share progress using #JSAIBuildathon to connect with other participants

Getting Started

Registration is now open at aka.ms/JSAIBuildathon. The program is completely free and requires no prior AI experience—just JavaScript/TypeScript knowledge and a willingness to learn.

Whether you're a seasoned JavaScript developer looking to add AI capabilities to your skillset or a newcomer wanting to build modern AI applications, the JavaScript AI Build-a-thon provides the structured learning path, expert guidance, and community support needed to succeed in today's AI-driven development landscape.

The JavaScript AI Build-a-thon represents a significant step toward democratizing AI development, making it accessible to the millions of developers who already work in JavaScript/TypeScript every day. By eliminating the language barrier, Microsoft is helping build a more inclusive AI development community where innovation isn't limited by programming language choices.