9 AI Internships for High School Students in Los Angeles, California
For high school students interested in artificial intelligence, internships offer an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop technical skills, and explore real-world applications of AI. These programs provide early exposure to fields like machine learning, robotics, and data science, enabling students to work on cutting-edge projects alongside industry professionals.
Unlike costly summer camps, many AI internships are low-cost or even free, with some offering stipends to make them accessible to students from different backgrounds. Los Angeles is home to top universities, research centers, and tech companies that provide internship opportunities, giving students a chance to build their resumes, gain mentorship, and strengthen their college applications.
To help you find the right opportunity, we’ve compiled a list of 9 AI internships for high school students in Los Angeles, California!
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
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.
Location: Virtual and in-person placements in Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid internships, plus potential for college credit
Program dates: June - August (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled in an LA County High School
The Intern Project (TIP) gives exceptional high school students from LA County schools the chance to work in exciting professional fields. As an intern, you’ll get to work with one of the following industries that TIP partners with: business, engineering and technology, media and entertainment, sports, government/non-profit/philanthropy, and healthcare and medical technology.
The summer program lasts eight weeks, from June to August. Students receive compensation and college credit after finishing the program.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
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. Here is the application form.
The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Program dates: July 16 - 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: - Must be high school students (entering 9th grade through 12th grade in Fall 2025)
Must be over the age of 14 by the start of the program
Strong preference for students with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) is committed to advancing AI research in medicine for the public good, promoting health equity and excellence in healthcare. In this spirit, it has launched the AIMI Summer Research Internship to expose high school students to the technical and clinical aspects of AI use in medicine and healthcare. During this two-week virtual program, you’ll attend lectures and workshops while having the opportunity to network with distinguished speakers over lunch.
Location: Hybrid; available in New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami
Cost: Free; participants receive a $1,000 stipend upon completion
Program dates: Typically September through May; meets once per week
Application Deadline: August
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors enrolled in a Los Angeles County high school
The Tech Flex Leaders Program is a rigorous after-school program for tech-loving juniors and seniors in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York City. You’ll participate in technical training and professional development courses facilitated by professionals in the field. Weekly programming, including both virtual and live events, is included in this nine-month commitment.
During the second semester, students choose a specialized track — options include UX design, data science, and product management. Career days and mentorship opportunities with representatives from leading technology businesses will be provided to students throughout the program, providing them with essential insights and establishing connections within the tech industry.
6. Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP)
Location: Various locations; virtual options are also available
Cost: Varies by internship; most are unpaid
Program dates: June - August (6–8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications open in March/April
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
SparkSMP offers high school students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data engineering through real-world applications. Applicants can select from a variety of remote and in-person projects, choosing up to five that align with their interests. For those passionate about technology, the program provides internships in ML Workflow, Data Engineering, and AI for Real-World Problems.
You’ll engage with industry professionals, university faculty, and experienced mentors, gaining valuable insights into emerging tech fields. SparkSMP equips students with practical skills, fosters innovation, and helps them explore potential career paths in AI and technology.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,000
Program dates: June 18 - July 2
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility:
9th graders or rising 10th graders in the summer
Must be over the age of 14 by the start of the program
Preference for students with math and/or computer skills
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week online program that immerses students in artificial intelligence through lectures, practical research projects, and mentorship activities. Its goal is to improve diversity in the field of AI. While learning about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance society, you’ll interact with experts and investigate cutting-edge subjects like robotics, computer vision, medical AI, and natural language processing.
The program, in partnership with the Stanford AI Lab, provides students with practical experience on significant research projects, promotes personal development through career workshops, and sparks enthusiasm for the transformative potential of AI.
Location: Los Angeles, CA; While most sessions are virtual, there are 2 required in-person sessions
Cost: No cost; participants receive a $500 stipend upon completion
Program dates:
Cycle 1: June 16 - July 3
Cycle 2: July 14 - July 31
Demo Day: August 7
Application Deadline: Applications will open in March
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors currently attending a Los Angeles County, Miami-Dade/ Broward County, or Atlanta high school are eligible to apply
Tech360 is a three-week summer program aimed at introducing high school students to essential AI concepts and practical coding skills. Located in Los Angeles, the program emphasizes hands-on learning, where you’ll work in teams to create functional websites and incorporate AI-powered features to address real-world challenges.
You will explore applications of machine learning, develop your web design skills, and enhance your communication abilities through project presentations. The program also connects students with mentors and industry professionals, offering insights into career opportunities in AI and related fields.
9. Computer Science Summer Institute – Introductory Track at UCLA
Location: UCLA Campus, CA
Cost: $3,291
Program dates: June 23 - July 11
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 (must be 15 years old by program start)
The UCLA Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) offers two tracks: an introductory track for students who are new to programming and an intermediate track centered on the fundamentals of data science. Both tracks incorporate UCLA coursework, practical labs, and collaborative problem-solving projects. Over the course of this three-week commuter program, you’ll develop essential skills in programming, computational thinking, and data analysis.
The Introductory Track covers Python programming and essential computing concepts, while the Intermediate Track delves into data science, encompassing machine learning, data analytics, and statistical modeling. Students engage extensively with real-world datasets and undertake capstone projects that demonstrate their skills. Both tracks offer guidance from UCLA faculty and Ph.D. mentors, along with small-group interactions, ensuring a collegiate experience.
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