Isn't all the code open to the public? I remember seeing a reddit link to the github site months ago. I clicked the link, saw that the actual contest hadn't started yet, and made a mental note to keep my eyes open for the actual start. If I'd been motivated, I could have downloaded the code, volunteered, or done any number of other things, as you could have too.
I guess what I'm saying is that the only thing separating the people with a headstart is motivation. There is no unfair advantage. If you want a headstart, I suggest setting up a google alert for aichallenge and watching appropriate news sources for word of next year's contest.