Meet the 13-year-old and his teen sister vibe coding and competing in Cursor's 24-hour hackathon

In an inspiring display of talent and determination, a 13-year-old boy and his 18-year-old sister participated in a 24-hour hackathon in Singapore, showcasing their skills in AI development. Usman Asif, the youngest participant, and his sister Shanzey, entered the competition equipped with their recent experience in vibe coding, a method of prompting AI to generate code. Usman's journey into coding began at a local class where he quickly embraced the challenge of creating an AI sports coach. Shanzey, motivated by her brother and their father, Asif Saleem, who works at Google, developed a website designed to assist astronomy enthusiasts in identifying visible planets. Initially, both teens found themselves surrounded by seasoned tech professionals, which was intimidating for Shanzey. However, as they learned the fundamentals of vibe coding, both siblings found it engaging and accessible. Shanzey noted that she was relieved to discover that the process centered around prompting AI rather than traditional coding. Their father, who had encouraged them to explore this technological avenue, had previously created a financial statement analyzer through vibe coding. The family’s collective interest in AI led them to team up for the hackathon, where they decided to create an AI-powered university guidance counselor, inspired by discussions about Shanzey's future college choices. After an intense 12-hour coding session, the trio returned the following morning to present their project. Each family member contributed uniquely: Asif crafted the initial framework, Shanzey enhanced the user interface, and Usman created the demo video. Although they did not win, the experience proved to be a memorable family bonding moment. As they reflect on their coding journey, both siblings acknowledge the valuable lessons learned. Shanzey emphasized the necessity of structure in coding, which parallels her school responsibilities, while Usman recognized that thoroughness yields better outcomes. They both envision AI playing a significant role in their future careers, with Shanzey considering its applications in law or psychology, and Usman seeing potential in AI app development. In their household, there are boundaries on AI usage, especially concerning schoolwork, reinforcing the importance of academic integrity. As they navigate their budding interests in technology, the Asif family remains committed to balancing their passion for AI with their educational responsibilities.