The Hackathon of Intelligences: A Full Immersion into Collective Thinking and Innovation

Three types of intelligence to solve communication problems

For three days, 90 students were immersed in three business challenges. Each student group was assigned to one of the three rooms corresponding to the different types of intelligence:

• Natural intelligence: here, students were disconnected from all digital devices (phones, computers, tablets) and AI. They had to think only with books and printed materials, thus highlighting their creativity and ability to use traditional tools to solve problems.
• Assisted intelligence: students had access to classic digital tools such as the internet, but they could not use AI. Their thinking was therefore guided by research and information available on the web, without the help of artificial intelligence.
• Augmented intelligence (AI): this room allowed students to use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, to refine and enhance their thinking. They were able to experience the tangible impact of AI in solving complex problems.

Vincent Montet, an EFAP instructor, summarizes the goal of the event as follows:

“The Hackathon of Intelligences is not just a classic hackathon where you deliver a solution. Here, the challenge is to get students to reflect on how they use their intellectual abilities, whether natural, assisted, or augmented, and on the lessons they can draw from this experience.”

The importance of human intelligence

The Hackathon of Intelligences format allows students to work on real-life problems, while also requiring critical thinking and self-discipline to experiment with different forms of intelligence. The innovation lies in the feedback on using these intelligences, where students took a step back to reflect on their own way of thinking and working.

“What I learned without a computer or a phone was the importance of each individual’s differences, whether it’s in perspectives, experiences, emotions. When you truly want to convince someone with ideas that come from the heart, they have much more impact,” explains Alix, in her 4th year of the MBA Digital Marketing & Business

Alix particularly appreciated the experience of augmented intelligence, which she considers the culmination of their work after having experienced the other two intelligences.

“It was the pinnacle for us because we were able to perfect our work with AI after thinking through the other intelligences.”

According to her, this experience helped her take a step back and see AI as a complementary tool and not as a replacement for human thought.

An immersive event: collective intelligence in action

The Hackathon of Intelligences gave students the opportunity to push their intellectual limits while exploring different dimensions of thinking. The school once again demonstrated its commitment to preparing students for the challenges of tomorrow by integrating innovative methods and modern tools into its training.

For Zahra, a 4th-year student in the MBA Digital Marketing & Business, the experience was particularly enriching. “Working without a computer or phone was a real revelation. Being immersed in a tech-free environment allowed me to truly focus on the essentials and rely on my team’s ideas,” she explains.

Zahra also emphasizes the importance of teamwork during the event: “The brainstorming with my teammates allowed me to discover new perspectives.”

Would you like to develop your digital marketing and communication skills and participate in innovative events like the Hackathon of Intelligences? Discover our programs at EFAP and join us to imagine the communication of tomorrow.