Horizon Media and Google Drive Innovation in Entertainment Marketing with AI Hackathon
Horizon Media, the largest independent media agency, teamed up with Google to host Hacking the Screen, a one-day AI hackathon at Google's Manhattan office. The event united students from nine universities including Columbia University, Cornell, and NYU to create practical AI solutions that address entertainment marketing challenges.
The hackathon focused on applying AI tools to real marketing problems, combining Horizon’s audience intelligence data with Google’s Vertex AI platform. Participants formed diverse teams to develop prototypes aimed at improving campaign strategies for a major entertainment brand, emphasizing actionable outcomes over theoretical ideas.
Collaboration Driving Responsible AI and Talent Development
Hosted by Bob Lord, president of Horizon Media Holdings, and Paijmaan Premji from Google, the event highlighted the shared vision of both companies to advance responsible AI use and nurture emerging talent. This partnership reflects Horizon's commitment to integrating experimentation with execution, particularly through Blu, their AI-native growth platform.
Bob Lord noted, “These students surfaced actionable opportunities—not hypotheticals. By pressure-testing Google's AI tools and Horizon's Data Insights against real business challenges, they revealed how AI can enhance strategy, speed execution, and sharpen relevance.”
Winning Solution and Judging Criteria
The grand prize of $10,000 was awarded to Synth Solutions, a team that utilized large language models to optimize campaign messaging across nuanced audience segments. Their prototype combined empathy, data, and generative AI to create predictive, high-impact marketing campaigns.
The team consisted of Nyosha Homicil (Pace University), Matthew Labasan (Columbia University), Eric Kouperman (Pace University), and Apun Datta (Hunter College).
Projects were evaluated on five criteria:
- Problem understanding
- Technical execution
- Creativity and innovation
- Real-world relevance
- Presentation quality
The judging panel included industry leaders from both Google and Horizon Media, ensuring a thorough assessment of each solution’s strategic and technical merit.
Looking Ahead: AI in Media and Marketing
This hackathon is part of Horizon’s broader strategy to blend innovation with practical client solutions while fostering the next generation of AI and marketing professionals. Top participants have been offered internships with Horizon's AI, analytics, and innovation teams, supporting ongoing talent development in media technology.
For marketing and communications professionals interested in AI-driven solutions, exploring hands-on AI applications like those demonstrated at this event is essential. To deepen your AI skills and stay competitive, consider exploring comprehensive AI training courses tailored for marketing specialists and communications experts at Complete AI Training.
About Horizon Media
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in New York, Horizon Media manages over $8.5 billion in media investments. With 2,400 employees across offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto, the agency delivers data-driven results for ambitious brands. Horizon emphasizes a personal approach to business, reflected in its high employee satisfaction and numerous workplace awards for diversity and inclusion.
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