University at Buffalo (UB)
Computer science student places fourth at LA Hacks 2023
Anuj Vadecha is pursuing a master’s degree in computer science and engineering.
By Marcene Robinson
Published August 11, 2023
Anuj Vadecha, a graduate student in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, earned fourth place in the Cohere Company Challenge at LA Hacks 2023, the largest collegiate hackathon in Southern California.
Over 1,000 participants, mentors, volunteers and sponsors took part in the annual, three-day hackathon in April at the University of California, Los Angeles. The Cohere Company Challenge—sponsored by Cohere, a company that works to help businesses incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into their products and services—tasked students with developing a product using the company’s AI models.
As part of a four-person team with students from other universities, Vadecha helped design GPTeddy, a teddy bear outfitted with a microphone, speaker and various software that allows the toy to speak with children and parents to regulate conversations. The device could provide an accessible solution for families seeking toys that offer a personalized learning experience. A demo and description of GPTeddy is available online.
At UB, Vadecha conducts research in X-Lab under Jinjun Xiong, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. He is pursuing a master’s degree in computer science and engineering.