11 AI Internships for High School Students
As advances in technology leap ahead, the relevance of AI is on the rise too. If you’re a high school student who wants to gain hands-on experience in the field of AI, you should consider applying for an internship!
AI is the foundation for a number of technologies, including machine learning algorithms, robotics, natural language processing, computer vision, biotechnology, and more. Internships in the field of AI, offered by top tech companies and institutions like Microsoft, MIT, Meta, Stanford, and more will allow you to apply your passion for technology, coding, and problem-solving in real-world situations, under the guidance of experts.
Participating in AI internships is also a great way to hone your tech skills and boost your profile for college applications, making your experience stand out. Internship experiences will help deepen your understanding of concepts in AI and prepare you for future academic and career endeavors in STEM.
Here are 11 of the best AI internships for high school students that you can consider!
Location: Varies from lab to lab.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid.Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 9, 2024.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be U.S. citizens.
Be juniors or seniors in high school during the application period.
Have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
The Summer High School Intern Program by NIST is a program for students who have finished their junior or senior year of high school (by the start of the program) and demonstrate an interest in scientific research. In this program, you can participate in cutting-edge research at NIST and work closely with NIST staff scientists and engineers on a specific research topic. You can choose to intern at one of these 6 NIST laboratories:
Communications Technology Lab
Engineering Lab
Information Technology Lab
Material Measurement Lab
NIST Center for Neutron Research
Physical Measurement Lab
If you are interested in AI and computer science you can choose the Information Technology Lab where you will partake in tasks such as computer network modeling, biometrics for computer access and security, cryptography, computer forensics, software quality testing, digital data retrieval and preservation, bioinformatics, data mining, machine learning, information visualization, and image analysis.
Location: Virtual.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: June 17 - 28, 2024.
Eligibility: Summer Research interns must be high school students over the age of 14 by the start of the program. Student leads must be California residents. Student interns must reside in the U.S. Student leads must also be students over the age of 14 and may also be undergraduate students with a computer science background.
This Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a two-week summer internship for high school students interested in technology and AI. This is a great opportunity to get a foundation in AI while also looking at the impact it can have on an industry as important as healthcare.
As an intern, you will attend a series of lectures on AI in healthcare and while building those skills you will simultaneously participate in research projects. Due to the intensive and immersive nature of the internship, you will also be under the expert guidance of Stanford AI research engineers. You will also get to attend Virtual Career Lunch and Learns with guest speakers who are from various parts of academia, nonprofit, and government helping you understand various possible careers and create strong networks!
Location: Lexington, MA.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: July 10, 2024 - August 15, 2024
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Have U.S. citizenship.
Be local high school rising seniors.
Be sixteen (16) years of age before the start date.
The Summer High School Internship Program at MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a unique opportunity for rising seniors who live and attend high school in the New England area to experience and explore STEM careers before committing to an area of study in college.
During the summer, you will be paired with Laboratory staff mentors to complete projects, solve problems, and learn and apply technical and interpersonal skills in a hands-on, professional environment. If you’re interested in AI, you can choose to work on projects related to artificial intelligence and technology systems that will help you explore technical expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and signal processing to discover, create, and deliver some of the nation’s most impactful technologies to national security. You could also opt to work on developing technology for advanced satellite systems that are used to monitor the activity of objects in space and to perform remote sensing of Earth.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Starts at $1990. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. The upcoming fall cohort deadline is September 8, 2024.
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter. The upcoming fall cohort begins on September 23, 2024.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships, a fairly selective program founded by Harvard alumni, pairs high school students with startups and nonprofits around the world for virtual internships. You can choose the field you wish to work in, from a wide range of industries, including technology, machine learning, AI, computer science, finance, environmental science, sustainability, business, marketing, healthcare, medicine, media, journalism, and more.
As an intern, you will work on meaningful projects that contribute to the startup or nonprofit’s larger mission, and present your work at the end of the program. This internship program includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, among other skills, and group training sessions with fellow interns. You will be paired with a manager at the startup and with a Ladder coach, who serves as a second mentor. The internship opportunities in this program span the globe, with a concentration in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and the UK. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Location: There are AEOP locations in almost every state. Students may select their preferred location. The program is intended for commuters and transportation, meals, and housing are not provided.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided but varies from location to location.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Check AEOP’s Summer 2024 opportunities here for the application dates.
Dates: This is a summer internship program, and specific dates vary from location to location.
Eligibility: Those applying must be current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location. Check details here.
This program is a chance to work one-on-one with a university researcher or Department of Defense (DoD) scientist mentor on research projects. As an intern, you will be exposed to high-tech equipment and cutting-edge techniques in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, and have access to professional scientists and engineers. Additionally, you will learn from other STEM practitioners during the internship. The Army-sponsored research that you will be a part of addresses the USA’s biggest challenges. The program aims to hone critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills to prepare you for a career in STEM.
If you’re interested in AI, you can select research opportunities that use applications of AI, coding, and ML such as the ones offered by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command-Aberdeen Proving Grounds - GNC Research with the Julia Programming Language or U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory - ARL Northeast (Boston). You can check AEOP’s Summer 2024 opportunities here.
Location: Austin, TX (Virtual options are available).
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid (Upon completion of the internship, both virtual and on-site interns will receive a NASA certificate of completion).
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Dates: July 27 - August 4, 2024 (10th graders) | July 7 - July 20, 2024 (11th graders).
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be current high school Sophomores or Juniors ONLY (will be rising Juniors and Seniors) who have not worked as a SEES intern previously.
Must be 16 years old by July 1, 2024.
Must be US citizens.
During the STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES) High School Summer Intern Program, each intern selected will receive links to virtual SEES distance learning activities on or about May 1. The required activities must be completed by July 1 or students will not be eligible to participate in the internship and an alternate will be accepted in their place. Both on-site and virtual interns will work with NASA subject matter experts in July 2024. Each year they have different themes for projects that are available including ones with a strong emphasis on AI.
The 11th-grade residential internship is for two weeks at the University of Texas Center for Space Research and the 10th-grade residential internship is for one week. The 11th-grade interns can choose to work from different project themes like Astronaut Photography, aerospace engineering, Mars Rover resource utilization, and more.
Over a week, the 10th-grade interns will collaborate with ZERO-G flight mentors to engineer and develop a compact, one-of-a-kind research payload to be tested in microgravity on board the ZERO-G parabolic aircraft. Each virtual project has a different timeline and theme. All 11th-grade interns will participate in a virtual SEES Science Symposium July 22-24, 2024 where teams will present their research to NASA, scientists, family members, and guests.
One such project is the Architecting AI for Human Space Travel, where you’ll get to explore current and suspected problems in AI development for deep space travel. You will delve into the impact of AI historically and its impact on biological forms throughout history to evaluate differences in AI tool creation especially about space travel! The AI project will be led by a member of a U.S. federally recognized tribe and will also use Indigenous Research Methods (IRMs), ensuring that you get a concrete understanding of concepts and skills both for your research project and for your future career in AI!
Location: Redmond, WA | Atlanta, GA.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Interns are paid a competitive wage that varies based on the location.
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in March for Redmond and Atlanta students and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Dates: July 8, 2024 - August 2, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to high school graduating seniors who live within 50 miles of Redmond, Washington, or Atlanta, Georgia. Students must be at least 16 years old and have a legal right to work in the U.S. for the duration of the program and must have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program.
Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program is a great way for high-school students with a keen interest in technology to delve into the possible uses and applications of AI in one of the world’s leading tech companies!
You will work in a small team to complete a project for your product group through which you will gain exposure to the product development Design phase and gain visibility to Software engineering, PM (Technical PM or Product Management), and UX Design disciplines. Over your 4 weeks as an intern, you will get a holistic understanding of the design phase of product development by getting hands-on experience in innovative AI-powered solutions. You will also be guided by expert Microsoft engineers who will help you bring your skills to the table and explore career options in tech both within and beyond Microsoft. Interns will explore options like machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and more, getting both a theoretical and practical foundation in AI.
Location: Menlo Park, CA.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March. The admission cycle for summer 2025 will open in December 2024.
Dates: June 17, 2024 - July 26, 2024.
Eligibility: High school sophomores with a minimum of 2.0 Cumulative GPA who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City are encouraged to apply.
Meta Summer Academy, previously known as the Facebook Summer Academy, is a well-regarded internship program that offers students the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of AI within the world’s leading tech and social media company! You will get to participate in various hands-on tasks that include coding projects that involve machine learning, and deep learning while gaining practical experience under the guidance of Meta professionals! You will be expected to work for 30 hours per week.
In addition to exploring the technical aspects of Meta, you will also get a good insight into the ethical considerations of AI and data usage and its role in shaping tech platforms and apps. As a wholly immersive program, Meta provides students with a solid foundation to understand AI’s applications while also equipping students with valuable computer skills for a successful tech career!
Location: University of New Hampshire Campus, Durham, NH.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Interns are paid a competitive hourly rate.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February. The 2025 application will open on January 1, 2025.
Dates: The internship program typically runs for five weeks in the June/August timeframe. Eligibility: Open to rising seniors who are U.S. residents.
HighTech Bound is a paid summer internship program designed for rising high school seniors with a keen interest in technology. This internship offers students the chance to gain practical and hands-on experience in the field of network technologies and AI through a 4-week intensive experience.
As an intern, you will be under the expert guidance of mentors where you will collaborate in an advanced computer lab, working on team-based projects that seek to innovate AI integration. These projects will also give you access to the latest technology in software that is used in Apple, Dell, and Cisco, ensuring that you are a part of cutting-edge and impactful AI research. You will also have the opportunity to network while finding research solutions and contributing to long-lasting and impactful research!
Location: Greater Seattle area, WA.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipends are based on the project, as some projects offer stipends and others do not.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May after opening in April. Applications for summer 2025 will open sometime in March/April 2025.
Dates: Vary depending on the opportunity typically between June and August (~ 6-8 weeks).
Eligibility: High school students in the Greater Seattle area who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and can work for 40 hours/week for 8-12 weeks.
Participants in SparkSMP can choose from 1 to 5 projects that interest them, with selected students (only 5-6) receiving mentorship from sponsors. The program also provides resources and opportunities that are beneficial during and after the college application process.
SparkSMP will offer you the chance to apply concepts in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data visualization to real-world scenarios. The program will allow you to interact with and learn from industry leaders, university professors, and mentors. Research topics for 2024 include extreme weather conditions, software engineering, detecting tick-borne infections and cancers, ML workflow, quantum, CHIPS/semiconductors - GaN/AIGaN, low-temperature electronics, competitive analysis, and market research, data engineering and AI, social media content generation, and more.
Location: Honors College, Lubbock, TX.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students will receive a $750 stipend upon successful completion of the research project report.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 16, 2024 - August 1, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to applicants who are:
at least 17 years of age by the program start date, and are participating in the summer before or after senior year of high school.
U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a seven-week comprehensive research program designed for high school students to gain hands-on research experience under the mentorship of Texas Tech faculty. Although it is not a traditional internship, the program provides an opportunity for independent research exploration.
This program offers the flexibility to incorporate AI and its applications within computer science. This includes areas such as virtual and augmented reality, big data visualization, visual analytics, statistical data analysis, data-intensive computing, computer architectures, and systems software. Additionally, you can explore research areas in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical and Computer Engineering, which involve applications of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
For tips on how to get into this program, you can find advice from the Dean of Texas Tech here!
One other option - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you would like to participate in a rigorous research program open to high schoolers, you should also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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