Later this fall, the Mark Cuban Foundation (MCF) will return to Pittsburgh with a free Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp for local high school students and edtech company Carnegie Learning has been chosen to serve as the bootcamp's host.
To take place over four consecutive Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. beginning on Oct. 14, the AI Bootcamp is designed to encourage underserved high schoolers to learn about basic concepts and skills used to create AI platforms and tools. These students also will learn what equates to AI and what doesn't in addition to being informed on the ethical implications of AI systems and how these tools might already be impacting their day-to-day lives.
"I saw the impact of PCs. Then I saw the impact of local area networks. Then I saw the impact of wide area networks. Then I saw the impact of the Internet. Then I saw the impact of mobile. Then I saw the impact of wireless," Pittsburgh native and billionaire Mark Cuban said in a prepared statement. "Now I'm seeing the impact of artificial intelligence. And it dwarfs any of those things."
Students do not need to have a familiarity or background with computer science or programming to attend. Applications are due by Sept. 8.
Carnegie Learning is one of more than 25 organizations across the country that are hosting AI bootcamps from the foundation. Last year, autonomous vehicle developer Argo AI LLC and The Readiness Institute at Penn State hosted the bootcamp sessions for local students.
Since its launch in 2019, MCF's AI Bootcamps Initiative has expanded to over 20 cities serving more than 550 students, up from the six cities and over 130 students it taught at launch.
