Is AI the ultimate hackathon buddy? What we learned at ShipIt 61

What if you had a hackathon buddy who had almost infinite knowledge and no need for caffeine? 

Rovo, Atlassian’s AI-powered assistant, is designed to help teams work smarter by finding information, summarizing content, and helping with tasks across Atlassian tools. Rovo streamlines workflows, answers questions, and boosts productivity.

Now, imagine what Rovo could do in a high-stakes, time-crunched challenge like a hackathon. Having Rovo or another AI tool is a huge advantage for time-crunched hackers.

A brief history of ShipIt at Atlassian

Atlassian’s ShipIt hackathon events provide a way for Atlassians to work cross-functionally with team members they wouldn’t otherwise collaborate with.

Atlassian’s ShiptIt hackathons started in 2005 with a small group of developers looking to accelerate some debugging work. 

ShipIts have been aptly described as “24 hours of opportunity” and a “quarterly creativity fest”. These events are an invitation to drop what you’re working on to explore an idea, test a theory, fix a recurring issue, or plainly have some fun with colleagues. 

At the end of the event, teams share a three-minute presentation. From there, finalists are chosen to compete for a selection of awards. It’s exhilarating, beloved, and still going strong after 20 years.

Over the years, Atlassians have used quarterly ShipIt events for everything from designing speakeasies hidden behind bookcases to innovating a restroom-friendly laptop tray. Some Atlassian products (like Jira Service Management) came directly from ShipIt events!

ShipIt is a living example of Atlassian’s value: Be the change you seek.

ShipIt + AI = innovation power team

The Teamwork Lab is always exploring what drives AI usage.

Would ShipIt participants use Rovo to drive their ideas forward? How would their usage compare to other Atlassians who weren’t participating in ShipIt?

How would ShipIt 61’s group of 1,861 “hackers” utilize their new teammate and buddy, Rovo? 

Heck yeah, they would – and they did! ShipIt boosted Rovo usage rates 12% among hackathon participants.

When teams come together to build new things and experiment together, they are more likely to use AI in valuable ways, and that’s exactly what happened during ShipIt 61.

How to use AI effectively for your next hackathon 

Rovo usage increased amongst the hackers participating in ShipIt, but how did they use Rovo to move even faster than a traditional hackathon? 

Here are some strengths to consider when infusing AI into your next hackathon.

1. Brainstorming + infinite energy

When you’re working against the clock, it helps to have a teammate that never sleeps.

While an “always on” human can be a little much, AI can serve as a ready partner that helps teams explore ideas from multiple angles. During a time-intensive hackathon, your AI teammate remains sharp from beginning to end.

AI tools are great for surfacing unconventional concepts, refining rough thoughts, or expanding on a theme you already like. Because it can generate wide variations quickly, teams avoid getting stuck on the first idea. This leads to more thoughtful, aligned decision-making right from the start.

2. Task breakdown + role assignment 

Once a direction is chosen, AI can break the project into clear, digestible tasks and identify logical dependencies.

By referencing your team’s skills and past work, AI tools like Rovo can even suggest who’s best suited for each task. This keeps everyone aligned and focused, a key advantage when time is short.

This provides structure without wasting time on over-planning. As a result, the team stays organized and everyone knows exactly where to begin.

3. Proactive troubleshooting + feasibility 

AI can flag technical risks early by pointing out hidden complexity, missing components, or unrealistic assumptions.

Instead of losing hours to trial and error, the team gets practical direction immediately. AI tools can explain errors, suggest fixes, or recommend alternative approaches in real time.

4. Instant adaptability + support  

AI can shift roles instantly based on what the team needs. Depending on the task, AI can mimic a designer, engineer, product manager, copywriter, researcher, or even cheerleader. 

This adaptability fills gaps that small teams usually struggle with. It lets each member focus on their strengths while AI covers everything else. Ultimately, it feels like having an extra teammate who never gets tired.

5. Sharpened finish + consistent quality 

As the project comes together, AI can help polish all the rough edges. Use it to improve UI text, refine code, write documentation, or generate last-minute design assets. It ensures the final product looks intentional and cohesive, not rushed. 

Even small improvements can significantly elevate the perceived quality. This polish often separates good projects from award-winning ones.

6. Polished presentation + organization 

Finally, AI can help craft a narrative that clearly communicates the problem, the solution, and why it matters. 

AI tools like Rovo are great at organizing content, simplifying technical jargon, and helping to deliver a clear, confident narrative for judges and teammates alike. With a little AI help, your final presentation is more likely to stand out and leave a lasting impression.

Real, lasting impact: Rovo usage continues

During ShipIt 61, Rovo usage among participants was 11% higher than the rest of Atlassian during the hackathon period. 

Teams that leaned on Rovo moved faster, but that’s just the beginning. They also reported higher confidence in their solutions and final presentations. While hackathons alone don’t guarantee lasting AI adoption, Rovo proved to be a powerful accelerator for teams looking to maximize their impact in a short timeframe.

Stay tuned for more research and interventions on AI usage, adoption, and innovation from the Teamwork Lab.