April 25, 2024 by Danny Rojas

Empowering the Next Generation with AI Education: Outcomes from Our Inaugural AI Weekend Intensive

Cultivating AI Literacy and Ethical Awareness Among Young Men of Color

ai-generated image of students in a classroom

AI Inquiry Weekend Intensive: What Students Are Saying

“

This Weekend Intensive was really fun and I learned a lot more about AI. Definitely one of the best 6 hours spent.

”

Empowering Youth with AI Education: Outcomes from All Star Code's 2024
AI Weekend Intensive


All Star Code is committed to equipping young men of color with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the technology industry. As part of this mission, we recently hosted our inaugural AI Weekend Intensive, a groundbreaking program designed to introduce students to the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. The two-day intensive provided a unique opportunity for our scholars to gain hands-on experience with AI tools and explore the vast potential and implications of this rapidly evolving field. The outcomes from this pilot program have been incredibly encouraging and reinforce the importance of providing accessible AI education to underrepresented communities.

Program Highlights:

  • 100 students registered for the intensive, with 44 attending on the first day and 40 on the second day.
  • 93% of participants reported feeling more confident in their ability to use and understand AI systems like ChatGPT after the program.
  • 100% of attendees intend to apply or have already applied to our 2024 Summer Intensive program, demonstrating the intensive's success in sparking interest in tech careers.
  • An impressive 97% said they would recommend the AI Weekend Intensive to their peers.

    • Beyond the numbers, the feedback from our scholars has been overwhelmingly positive. Students expressed excitement about gaining a deeper understanding of AI's capabilities, limitations, and responsible use cases. Many were amazed at being able to train their own AI models through interactive activities. One scholar shared, "This program made my weekend very cool, and I am very grateful and thankful to have been taught by all of my instructors." Another remarked, "I sincerely enjoyed my time here at the weekend intensive and I hope everyone did as well!" The AI Weekend Intensive not only equipped our scholars with technical skills but also fostered critical thinking about the ethical implications of AI. By exploring AI hallucinations, biases, and the importance of fact-checking, we aimed to cultivate a responsible and discerning approach to this powerful technology. Looking ahead, we are energized by the potential to expand this program and continue providing transformative AI education opportunities. The intensive has sparked interest in developing an 8-week AI Inquiry course, and we will actively explore partnerships and funding avenues to make this a reality. I am incredibly proud of our scholars' engagement, curiosity, and drive to learn. Their passion reinforces our belief that investing in AI education for underrepresented communities is crucial for fostering a diverse and innovative tech workforce. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated instructors for their expertise and our scholars for their enthusiasm and commitment to growth. At All Star Code, we remain steadfast in our mission to close the opportunity gap in technology. The success of the AI Weekend Intensive is a testament to the transformative power of accessible education and a promising step towards a more inclusive and equitable future in AI.

Outcomes

Apply Hello young, bright minds. Apply to the summer program to create the generation you want to live in. Donate Hello generous donors. We cannot change the status quo without you funding the change.