13 AI internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in exploring the dynamic field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and want to gain practical experience in it, you should consider pursuing an AI internship! AI, a continuously evolving field, serves as the foundation for various technologies such as machine learning algorithms, robotics, natural language processing, computer vision, biotechnology, and more.
These internships, offered by some of the best tech companies and institutions in the world like Microsoft, NASA, MIT, Meta, Stanford, and more, will allow you to apply your passion for technology, coding, and problem-solving in real-world scenarios under the guidance of expert professionals. Participating in AI internships is also a great way to hone your tech skills and boost your CV for college applications, making your experience stand out. These experiences will improve your understanding of AI concepts and serve as a stepping stone toward your future endeavors in STEM.
Here’s our curated list of 13 of the best AI internships for high school students!
1. Ladder Internships (AI Track)
Location: Virtual! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. Summer Cohort (Regular Admission 1) - April 14, 2024 | Summer Cohort (Regular Admission 2) - May 12, 2024.
Program Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter. Summer Cohort begins June 3, 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!
Cost: Starting at $1,990. Financial assistance is available.
Ladder Internships offers high school students the opportunity to intern with startups and nonprofits across the world in a virtual setup in a field of their interest. Founded by Harvard alumni, this program is fairly selective. As a Ladder intern, you 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.
You will work on projects that contribute to the startup or nonprofit’s larger mission and present your work at the end of the program. You will be paired with a manager at the startup and with a Ladder coach, who serves as a second mentor. This program includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, among other skills, and group training sessions with fellow interns.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024
Program Dates: June 17 - June 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.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid.
This Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a two-week summer internship for high school students interested in medicine and AI. This is a great opportunity for students to build foundational knowledge 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!
3. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
Location: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Program Dates: Starts in June and runs for 8–12 weeks. Start dates and internship durations are flexible.
Eligibility:
- Be at least 17 years of age by June 15, 2024. If your start date is before June 15, you must be 17 years of age by the internship start date.
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited U.S. college (including community college), university, or professional school (e.g., medical, dental, pharmacy) OR be accepted into an accredited college, university, or professional program for fall 2024.
- Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Cost/Stipend: No cost; DSI Scholars are paid according to the NIH Intramural Research Training Award stipends, which are updated annually and based on education and experience.
This internship offered by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) focuses on the application of data science innovation in the medical field. This internship, spanning 8 to 12 weeks, provides students with the opportunity to work closely with a research mentor on a computational research project in biological sciences.
In addition to hands-on training, you will have access to seminars and professional development workshops aimed at enhancing scientific communication skills. At the end of the program, interns will present their research projects at NLM’s Summer Poster Day. There’s also a possibility of presenting the poster at the NIH-wide Summer Poster Day. This internship offers a comprehensive experience for students interested in exploring the intersection of data science and medicine!
4. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Internships
Location: Varies from lab to lab.
Application Deadline: February 13, 2024
Program Dates: June 17 - 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.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid.
The Summer High School Intern Program by NIST is designed for students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school (by the start of the program) and are keen to explore 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 the 6 NIST laboratories.
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.
5. University of New Hampshire’s HighTech Bound
Location: University of New Hampshire Campus, Durham, NH
Application Deadline: February 29, 2024
Program Dates: The internship program typically runs for five weeks in the June/August timeframe. (2024 Dates TBA)
Eligibility: Open to rising seniors who are U.S. residents.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Interns are paid a competitive hourly rate.
HighTech Bound is a paid summer internship program designed for rising high school seniors who are interested in the field of 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 work under the expert guidance of mentors, where you will collaborate in an advanced computer lab and work on team-based projects that seek to innovate AI integration. These projects will give you access to the latest software technology used by 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!
6. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University
Location: Texas Tech University campus, Lubbock, TX. This is a residential program!
Application Deadline: February 15, 2024
Dates: June 16 - August 1, 2024
Eligibility: Applicants must:
- Be at least 17 years of age by the program start date, and should graduate in 2024 or 2025. (This means they will participate the summer before senior year or the summer after senior graduation from high school.)
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students are paid a $750 stipend (upon completion of the program). The program also covers on-campus housing, meals, and weekend activities.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a 7-week competitive, comprehensive research program. It allows you to gain hands-on research experience under the mentorship of Texas Tech faculty. While not a traditional internship, this program does allow you to explore independent research.
The program does not have a specific sub-section for artificial intelligence, but you have the flexibility to involve AI and its applications with computer science wherein you’ll get to work with virtual and augmented reality, big data visualization and visual analytics, statistical data analysis, data-intensive computing, computer architectures, and systems software, to name a few. You can also choose research areas such as Mechanical Engineering or Electrical and Computer Engineering that involve applications of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
7. Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program
Location: Redmond, WA and Atlanta, GA
Application deadline: Applications are currently open for Redmond and Atlanta students and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Program dates: July 8 - 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.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend paid is $18 per hour but varies based on the location.
Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program is a great way for high schoolers to explore the various possible uses and applications of AI, at one of the world’s leading tech companies.
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.
8. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: In-person (George Mason University, Fairfax, VA), remote and hybrid options are offered. Housing is not provided for minors.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close at the beginning of February.
Program Dates: June 18 - August 9, 2024
Eligibility: Interns for in-person, remote, or hybrid internships in computer labs must be 15 years or older by June 18, 2024. Interns for "wet-lab" in-person or hybrid internships must be 16 or older by June 18, 2024.
Cost/Stipend: There is a $25 application fee which can be waived. This is an unpaid opportunity.
The nationally recognized Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) offers strong research experiences for high school and undergraduate students. If selected, you'll have the chance to work one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason University and collaborating institutions, utilizing cutting-edge tech across various disciplines.
For students interested in AI, ASSIP offers a diverse array of focus areas to choose from, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data mining, data science for social good, computer modeling, computer simulations, machine learning, and more. Whether you have no experience in computer science or are familiar with programming languages, ASSIP can be a valuable opportunity. Additionally, if your goal is to publish your work by the internship's end, ASSIP is worth considering.
9. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
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.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Check AEOP’s Summer 2024 opportunities here for the application dates.
Program Dates: This is a summer internship program, 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.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided but the amount varies from location to location.
This program is a chance to conduct research while working one-on-one with a university researcher or Department of Defense (DoD) scientist mentor. 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 country’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.
10. MIT Lincoln Laboratory High School Internship Program
Location: Lexington, MA
Application Deadline: March 22, 2024
Program Dates: July 10 - 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.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Stipend is provided.
The Summer High School Internship Program at MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides an 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 work on 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.
11. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES Virtual Summer Intern Program
Location: Austin, TX (Virtual options are available).
Application Deadline: February 24, 2024
Program 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.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Unpaid (Upon completion of the internship, both virtual and on-site interns will receive a NASA certificate of completion).
For this program, each intern will receive links to virtual SEES distance learning activities around May 1st. 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.
One such project is the Architecting AI for Human Space Travel, wherein you 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!
12. Idaho National Laboratory Internship
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March/April.
Program Dates: The program typically begins in mid-June and lasts for 6 weeks.
Eligibility: High school students above the age of 16, who hold a U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status are eligible to apply. (Exceptions can be made for foreign nationals who attend an accredited U.S. college or university).
Cost/Stipend: No cost; The exact amount is not mentioned, but the INL pays a competitive wage while also offering a housing stipend and transportation reimbursements.
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is a prestigious internship conducted under the U.S. Department of Energy, that invites high school students to apply computer science concepts to real-world issues. The lab has several ongoing projects within the fields of advanced transportation technology, clean energy, critical infrastructure protection, and cyber security.
As an intern, you will have the flexibility of developing your project idea under the guidance of expert mentors and presenting it at the Intern Poster session at the end of the internship. If you are interested in AI there are a lot of options to research in AI and machine learning that you could undertake especially under their Critical Infrastructure and Cybersecurity track. Some of the past projects included A Machine Learning Approach for EV Traffic Volume Prediction, Machine Learning Constitutive Model for Granular Biomass Material, AI for Neurodivergence: Diversity-Champ, Clarifying Machine Learning Recommendations in Nuclear Operations through Explainability and Insights, and more.
13. Veritas AI Internship
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: October 20, 2024
Program Dates: The start date for the upcoming cohort is November 11, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program.
Cost: $2,490 (some financial aid is available)
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more.
This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. Students get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs!
This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper in a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from.
You can find the application link here!
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.