A free artificial intelligence boot camp is coming to Chicago this fall, offering high school students hands-on instruction in generative AI, machine learning and the practical use of emerging technologies. The three-day program, organized through the Mark Cuban Foundation and Youth Advocate Programs, will be held on consecutive Saturdays—Oct. 31, Nov. 7 and Nov. 14—and is open to students in grades 9 through 12. Participants will explore AI applications across healthcare, business, sports, science, computer science and the arts while learning about bias, privacy, transparency and other ethical considerations. Students will also complete a capstone project using AI to address a real-world problem. The program removes several barriers to participation by providing technology, meals and transportation assistance at no cost, while requiring no previous programming or computer science experience.
Key Takeaways
- Chicago will host a free three-day AI boot camp for students in grades 9–12 on Oct. 31, Nov. 7 and Nov. 14, with technology, meals and transportation assistance provided.
- Students will receive practical instruction in generative AI, machine learning, prompting, data and AI ethics while exploring applications in several major career fields and completing a capstone project.
- The initiative provides an alternative, privately supported pathway for expanding technology education as Chicago schools increasingly emphasize AI literacy, responsible use, academic integrity, privacy and critical thinking.
In-Depth
Chicago’s addition to the nationwide AI Bootcamp program gives local high school students an opportunity to learn technology shaping education and employment. The free program, operated through a partnership between the Mark Cuban Foundation and Youth Advocate Programs, will run on three consecutive Saturdays—Oct. 31, Nov. 7 and Nov. 14—and is open to students in grades 9 through 12.
The curriculum goes beyond simply showing teenagers how to use popular AI products. Students are expected to study generative AI, machine learning, data, prompting and ethical questions involving bias, privacy and transparency. Career-focused modules connect those concepts with healthcare, business, computer science, sports, and the arts. Participants will ultimately develop a capstone project applying AI to a real-world problem.
The program is notable because cost barriers have been deliberately removed. Technology, meals and transportation assistance are provided, and previous coding experience is not required. That structure can help students who might otherwise lack access to advanced technology instruction.
Chicago schools are simultaneously confronting the broader challenge of incorporating artificial intelligence without allowing it to replace independent thought. District guidance emphasizes AI literacy, responsible use, academic integrity, privacy and critical thinking. A hands-on program that teaches both technical capabilities and limitations can complement that approach.
As employers expect familiarity with AI-enabled tools, early exposure could become a meaningful competitive advantage. Programs like this offer a market-oriented way to broaden opportunity: give students access to useful skills, mentors and technology, then challenge them to build something with what they learn for themselves today.