Samsung has announced the winners of its eighth E.D.G.E program. It is the company's pan-India program where college students can showcase their technical and managerial skills, business acumen, and ideas. In 2023, over 15,000 students from 35 campuses across India participated in the program.
Students showcase Generative AI use cases to improve customer experience
The E.D.G.E Award was given to the Edge Runners team from MICA, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The team proposed an innovative and unconventional Generative AI-based solution that can improve the customer experience across offline and online stores. The solution aims to make things accessible, personalized, and preferential for even regional audiences. The idea was presented by Aviral Agarwal, Mansi Mathur, and Sakshi Bansal, and they won a cash prize of INR 450,000 ($5,400). They also won flagship Samsung smartphones and a pre-placement offer to work for Samsung India.
The Creative Geniuses team from IIFT, Kolkata, West Bengal, who won the second E.D.G.E prize, proposed an idea that combines AI and neurosciences through an integrated platform to offer a seamless customer journey. The team proposed the idea to use audio, visual, and touch responses from customers to provide them with an experience of Samsung's product ecosystem and to guide them in their purchase journey. This team won the runners-up award and a cash prize of INR 300,000 ($3,600).
The Hustlers team from IIM Bangalore, Karnataka, also presented a solution that helps consumers from their pre-purchase to post-purchase journey by leveraging Generative AI-based technologies. This team, consisting of students Ami Jagani, Abhishek Chhattani, and Vishal Shakya, won a cash prize of INR 150,000 ($1,800).
The three-month program had three rounds, and over 15,000 teams from 35 top-tier education institutions participated in Samsung's E.D.G.E program. Only 45 teams graduated to the second round, and only 10 of those teams reached the finals. These teams were then guided by top Samsung executives for the national round. The final event, which was held in Gurugram, was attended by Mr. JB Park, President and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia, and other senior executives from the company.
Mr. Sameer Wadhawan, Head of Human Resources at Samsung India, said, “At Samsung, we prioritize innovation as the foundation of our initiatives. Over the years, Samsung E.D.G.E. has consistently empowered students, providing a platform to showcase creative solutions and foster meaningful change for society. This year, the program received an overwhelming response and participation from more students and campuses, which has been truly inspiring for us. We are glad to see the spirit of innovation and problem-solving in these young minds.”
