UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Readiness Institute (RI) at Penn State and Argo AI are teaming up to host the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Boot Camp in Pittsburgh. The boot camp is designed to teach artificial intelligence concepts to high school students during four consecutive Saturdays this fall, starting Oct. 22 at the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh.
Justin Aglio, interim vice president for Penn State Outreach and director of the RI at Penn State said the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Boot Camp is a collaborative opportunity that advances community and future readiness for learners in the Pittsburgh region.
“We join Argo AI and the Mark Cuban Foundation in its mission to not only increase literacy and understanding of AI, but to present it in a way that inspires,” Aglio said. “We are thrilled to offer regional learners a program that provides invaluable skills so students can thrive and grow in our region.”
Students do not need prior experience with computer science, programming, or robotics to attend. Concepts that will be examined include identifying AI use in the real world, building applications, discussing ethics in AI use and bias in data.
Students will also learn to work with programs including Microsoft Azure and Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, and will learn to build their own AI applications related to chatbots, computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing.
Ethan, a learner from the Pittsburgh region who participated in the 2021 Mark Cuban AI Bootcamp at the RI Penn State, said it helped guide him into future educational and career opportunities.
“The MCF AI Boot Camp was a great experience,” Ethan said. “Not only will it help me now, but also in my future career. I appreciate all the effort and am thankful for the opportunity!”
The Mark Cuban Foundation AI Boot Camp hosted by the RI at Penn State and Argo AI is open to students who live and attend high school in the Pittsburgh region and have an interest in technology and machine learning.
The four-hour-long sessions will be held in-person at the Energy Innovation Center.
The student application is available here, the deadline is Sept. 1, 2022.
All Penn State youth programs have policies in place to ensure safety of youth participants. Read more important information for parents and guardians.
The RI at Penn State is a service of Penn State Outreach.