10 AI Internships for High School Students in Chicago, Illinois
Internships provide high school students with hands-on experience, helping you develop professional skills and explore career paths. If you're interested in machine learning, robotics, biomedical engineering, or ethical AI, internships in AI for high school students in Chicago, Illinois, could offer you a head start in the growing tech industry. These opportunities also help improve problem-solving, programming, and collaboration skills. AI internships for high school students in Chicago expose you to real-world projects and innovative research. Below are 10 AI internships for high school students in or near Chicago, Illinois, or available virtually. Each internship provides valuable experience in cutting-edge fields like healthcare, environmental science, and technology. These internships are an excellent way to build your technical expertise and professional network.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
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 is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Apply here.
The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: The 10-week AI Scholars program costs $2,900, the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase is $5,400, and both programs together are $6,900. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Internship dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Open to high school students worldwide. AI Fellowship applicants should have either completed the AI Scholars program or have prior experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions about the student's background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can check out some examples of past projects here and apply here.
Location: University of Illinois, Chicago
Cost/Stipend: $3,700; financial need scholarships are available
Application Deadline: February 3, 2025
Internship Dates: June 16 – July 11, 2025
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The SHARP! Program at the University of Illinois Chicago is a 4-week summer research experience for rising high school juniors interested in AI, robotics, and biomedical engineering in the medical field. You’ll participate in hands-on lab research with guidance from scientist mentors, attend lectures, career mentorship sessions, and biomedical workshops, and present your findings at the SHARP! Symposium.
After the program, SHARP! Ambassadors can lead biomedical innovation teams at their high schools and support STEM outreach for underserved elementary students, building leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. You’ll also gain medical and surgical training through activities like a suturing lab and robotic surgery simulations.
Location: University of Chicago
Cost/Stipend: $4,800 stipend
Application Deadline: January 2025
Internship Dates: June 16 – August 8, 2025
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, with preference for those familiar with a programming language and relevant coursework.
The DSI Summer Lab at the University of Chicago is a 10-week research internship for high school and undergraduate students interested in applied and interdisciplinary data science. You’ll work with experienced mentors, gaining hands-on experience in machine learning, data visualization, and statistical analysis. The program emphasizes collaborative research on real-world issues in areas like computer science, climate policy, and energy systems. You’ll also develop key skills in diverse research methodologies. The program concludes with a conference-style presentation where you’ll showcase your work, engage with peers, and receive feedback. By the end, you’ll have practical experience, technical expertise, and a solid foundation for future academic and career opportunities in data science.
Locations: Programs are held at the Michael and Karyn Lutz Center, Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, and After School Matters at Gately Park, all in Chicago.
Cost/Stipend: Varies based on program and commitment
Application Deadline: February 14, 2025
Internship Dates: February 24 – May 10, 2025
Eligibility:Open to Chicago residents or Chicago Public High School students aged 14 to 18.
After School Matters (ASM) offers Chicago teens the chance to explore fields like STEM, arts, communications, and artificial intelligence, with programs tailored to their career interests. Participants can choose from three pathways:
Apprenticeships (ages 14+), offering hands-on experiences to build core skills.
Assistantships (ages 16+), where students collaborate on projects under mentor guidance.
Internships (ages 16+), focusing on leadership by leading or creating independent projects.
All participants earn wages or stipends, and success is measured through comprehensive evaluation metrics.
6. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging’s Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No Cost
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
Internship Dates: June 16 – 27, 2025
Eligibility: Open to high school students over 14 years old, U.S. residents, with student leads requiring a computer science background and California residency, including undergraduate students.
Stanford's AIMI program offers a two-week virtual experience focused on AI applications in healthcare. You will gain hands-on experience applying AI to medical challenges, working closely with Stanford faculty on medical image analysis and diagnostic tools. The program blends theoretical instruction with practical research activities, and participants can continue their projects beyond the initial period. Leadership opportunities are available through the Student Lead role, where you’ll coordinate projects and receive mentorship. This program is a great foundation for students interested in careers at the intersection of medical innovation and AI technologies.
7. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: AEOP operates in various states, allowing students to choose their preferred location.
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to participate, and stipends vary by location.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; check AEOP’s website for specific dates.
Internship Dates: This is a summer internship program with varying dates depending on location.
Eligibility: Applicants must be current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; additional requirements vary by location. Check details here.
In this program, students work with top researchers from universities and DoD facilities on impactful scientific projects. They gain hands-on experience with advanced research equipment and collaborate with professional scientists and engineers. Interns contribute to Army-sponsored initiatives addressing national challenges, with opportunities in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer programming. In the Chicago area, ARL Central focuses on transforming scientific discoveries into military technologies through collaborative research. Northwestern University's Evanston Campus program offers students the chance to explore synthetic biology and materials science, conducting independent projects on biological systems and novel materials.
8. NASA and UT Austin’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer High School Intern Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost; interns will receive a certificate from NASA upon completion
Application Deadline: February 22, 2025
Internship Dates: May 1 – July 1, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors and sophomores with U.S. citizenship
The University of Texas at Austin partners with NASA to offer the SEES Summer High School Intern Program, providing immersive research experiences in Earth and space sciences. Selected students work alongside NASA professionals on topics like climate systems, satellite observation, and planetary research. The program starts with online education before moving to hands-on research, where interns analyze satellite data to explore issues like natural disasters, gravitational fields, and environmental changes. Students collaborate in teams to tackle real-world scientific challenges and present their findings at the SEES Science Symposium. The experience enhances both scientific knowledge and professional skills, laying the groundwork for future STEM careers. Integration of artificial intelligence tools for analyzing space missions and satellite imagery is a key feature for students interested in technology and Earth science.
9. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: In-person, remote, or hybrid options available.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; some projects offer a stipend
Application Deadline: February 2, 2025
Internship Dates: June 18 – August 8, 2025
Eligibility: Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years old by June 18 to apply, with a minimum age of 16 required for “wet lab” or hybrid internships.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) provides high school students with hands-on research experience in various STEM fields, with a focus on artificial intelligence. This eight-week program at George Mason University and partner facilities allows participants to work closely with faculty mentors on advanced research using cutting-edge tools and techniques. Students interested in AI can explore machine learning, data science for social good, and computational solutions to real-world challenges in fields such as medical research, environmental protection, and network security.
Participants develop key skills in research communication and analytical thinking, which are essential for future STEM careers. The program includes seminars with industry experts, offering insight into career paths and technological developments. ASSIP also encourages students to publish their research and present at scientific conferences, enhancing their professional presentation skills.
10. EDIT ML Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
Internship Dates: Starts June 15, 2025
Eligibility: High school students with a demonstrated ability in computer science
The EDIT Machine Learning Summer Internship Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center's Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department immerses students in AI applications for medical research. Interns work with extensive medical datasets, including digital pathology slides, health records, and molecular data, to develop computational analysis skills. Participants gain proficiency in programming languages and advanced computing systems, applying machine learning to challenges like cancer screening, image processing, and clinical text analysis.
The program combines technical learning with professional development, teaching interns how to communicate research findings to medical professionals. Through educational sessions and mentored projects, participants contribute to healthcare advancements. The program highlights the role of AI in driving medical innovation.
Image Source - Stanford Logo