At Levi9, continuous learning is not a side activity – it’s part of how we build, grow, and deliver value.
Over two consecutive Fridays, we organized an internal AI Challenge – an initiative designed to encourage hands-on experimentation with emerging technologies and to actively support a mindset shift toward AI-enabled thinking.
The idea for the Challenge was inspired by our presales activities. While preparing demos and client-facing video presentations, we recognized the power of rapid prototyping and storytelling as a way to explore new technologies in a meaningful, business-oriented way. That experience sparked a simple question: what if we created a structured space where our people could do the same – but driven by real client-inspired challenges?
Learning by Building
The AI Challenge was not primarily about competition. As Dragiša Đurić, Delivery Manager and one of the organizers, explained:
"The idea behind this AI Challenge was not competition. The primary goal was skill development – learning new tools, exploring new technologies, and expanding our capabilities."
Participants were invited to independently identify a relevant business problem and develop a practical AI-driven solution – from concept and architecture to implementation and final video pitch.
Importantly, this was not limited to developers. DevOps engineers, QAs, Delivery Managers, and other roles took part as well. That diversity of perspectives enriched both the solutions and the discussions that followed.
A total of 22 colleagues participated, each delivering a complete end-to-end solution. Along the way, they applied AI across the full Software Development Life Cycle, experimented with new tools, and strengthened their ability to translate technical ideas into business value.
Strong Outcomes Across Roles and Experience Levels
According to Nenad Resimić, QA Architect who closely followed the Challenge:
"Our colleagues responded to the tasks very successfully, especially considering that not everyone came from the same role or had the same level of knowledge and understanding of AI tools. The overall impression: excellent."
The quality of the solutions demonstrated that with the right framework and support, innovation can emerge across roles and experience levels.
Where the Real Magic Happened
One particularly encouraging moment was seeing strong engagement beyond the presenters themselves – colleagues who attended, asked thoughtful questions, challenged assumptions, and openly discussed trade-offs and technical compromises.
Creating space not only to demonstrate solutions, but also to explain what was difficult, which decisions were made, and why – that transparency is equally important in building technical maturity and confidence.
Recognizing Excellence
We would also like to congratulate our winners:
🏆 Slađana Tufegdžić – Winner of the first Friday
🏆 Jovan Zejnula – Winner of the second Friday
Their solutions stood out for their relevance, execution quality, and clarity of vision.
The AI Challenge reflects our broader commitment: fostering a culture where learning is proactive, experimentation is encouraged, and new technologies are explored with purpose.
Because building future-ready teams doesn’t happen by chance – it happens by design.
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