Washington, D.C., January 13, 2026 — Hupside and the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) today announced a new collaboration focused on advancing Original Intelligence (OI), the measurable human ability to generate ideas beyond AI’s increasingly homogenized outputs. The collaboration is rooted in the belief that AI’s impact depends on the human originality guiding it, and aims to elevate that originality as a critical advantage in an AI-driven economy. Together, Hupside and NVTC will collaborate on future initiatives that highlight how organizations can better measure and amplify Original Intelligence.
The collaboration follows Hupside CEO and co-founder Jonathan Aberman’s recent appointment to NVTC’s Board of Directors Senior Executive Advisory Committee, reinforcing a shared commitment to positioning the Greater Washington region as a leader at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human-centered innovation.
This announcement also comes on the heels of Hupside’s National Original Intelligence Week (January 5–9, 2026) and the company’s debut of the Original Intelligence category at CES 2026. We received over 3,000 responses to the Original Intelligence Challenge over five days. The results highlighted a growing appetite for tools that help people and organizations understand how human originality and AI work together.
“Our initial data from the Challenge is compelling, and during CES we saw firsthand how eager people are to understand how their ideas stack up against AI in a test of originality,” said Jonathan Aberman, CEO and co-founder of Hupside. “That enthusiasm is exactly why our work with NVTC matters. As AI becomes faster, cheaper, and more widely available, the work we are doing together reinforces that there is a role for both human originality and machine efficiency in the future of work. Through our collaboration with NVTC, we have an opportunity to help the DC region lead not just in AI adoption, but in how humans use AI to drive real differentiation and economic growth.”
For nearly four decades, Northern Virginia has led the way in technology innovation and the next chapter will be driven as much by people as by platforms,” said Jennifer Taylor, President and CEO of NVTC. “Human originality is what turns AI into a true competitive advantage. With Jonathan’s leadership on our Senior Executive Advisory Committee and our work with Hupside, NVTC will encourage its members to build teams that use AI to generate original ideas, not just automate tasks, and position this region to lead an AI economy defined by human insight, as well as world-class infrastructure.”
Those curious about how their thinking compares to AI can take the Original Intelligence Challenge and discover their Original Intelligence Quotient (OIQ) here. For more information on Original Intelligence and Hupside’s approach to measuring human originality in an AI-driven world, visit www.hupside.com.
About Hupside
Hupside is a transformational software company that measures and elevates human originality. Backed by rigorous cognitive science and built for a world reshaped by AI, Hupside’s tools help individuals and organizations identify the ideas, talent, and thinking that spark true innovation. At the heart of the platform is the Hupchecker, a first-of-its-kind assessment that generates an Original Intelligence Quotient (OIQ)—a quantifiable measure of how individuals think beyond conventional and AI-generated ideas. Whether you're hiring a visionary, building a high-performing team, or preparing your workforce for what’s next, Hupside helps you lead with originality. To learn more, visit www.hupside.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC)
NVTC is where the Northern Virginia region’s tech community comes together. Representing 500 members—from bold startups to Fortune 100 leaders—NVTC drives innovation, fosters connections, and advocates for policies that fuel growth and position Northern Virginia as a global leader in technology. Through initiatives in cybersecurity, generative AI, cloud computing, space and more, NVTC empowers the tech community to shape the future. Learn more at www.nvtc.org.
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