10 Online AI Internships for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- May 5
- 7 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
As artificial intelligence becomes more widely used across fields like healthcare, finance, and transportation, gaining early exposure can be a valuable step. If you’re a high school student interested in exploring AI, an internship can help you build foundational skills and understand how the field works in practical settings. It’s also a strong addition to college applications, especially if you're considering careers in computer science, data analysis, or robotics.
You’ll work with coding languages like Python, use tools like scikit-learn or TensorFlow, and learn how to handle and analyze large datasets. Many programs include one-on-one mentorship, research projects, or final presentations, helping you build both technical and communication skills that are useful in college and beyond.
To help you get started, here is a list of 10 online AI internships for high school students!
10 Online AI Internships for High School Students
Ladder Internships, founded by Harvard alumni, is a selective program that offers high school students the chance to intern remotely with startups and nonprofits worldwide. You can choose from a variety of fields, including AI, technology, business, engineering, media, journalism, sustainability, and healthcare. During the program, you’ll work on a specific project and present your findings at the end.
A key feature of this program is mentorship. You’ll work directly with experienced professionals and industry experts, gaining insights into areas like AI, machine learning, and programming. The program also includes one-on-one training in essential skills like communication and time management, along with group training sessions where you can connect with other interns.
Location: Virtual!
Cost: Starting at $1,990. Financial assistance is available.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year.
Program Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students.
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI, organized by Harvard graduate students, is an 8-week internship where students work with VC-backed startups on AI and machine learning projects. Throughout the program, you’ll collaborate with mentors from institutions like Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey & Company.
You’ll apply AI and ML techniques to real-world problems and contribute to industry-driven projects. The program is designed for students with prior experience in AI/ML who want practical exposure. You'll engage with professionals, contribute to team-based projects, and develop skills in areas such as data analysis, machine learning models, and algorithm development. Learn more about the program here and apply here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Program Date: Various cohorts throughout the year.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program.
Stanford’s AIMI Summer Research Internship lets high school students explore how AI is used in healthcare. Over two weeks, you'll learn from lectures and hands-on projects about how AI helps with medical imaging and other healthcare applications. You'll work closely with Stanford students and researchers, gaining experience in the field.
The program also includes career sessions with guest speakers from different industries, such as academia, tech, and nonprofits. You'll get a chance to ask questions and learn about career paths in AI and healthcare. If you're interested, there’s an option to continue your research with an extended internship.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $40 application, $850 participation, Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: February 28
Dates: June 16–27
Eligibility: High school students in the U.S. who are over the age of 14 can apply. Students with strong math or computer programming skills or experience with a healthcare project are encouraged to apply.
The Spark program lets you choose from 1 to 5 projects based on your interests, where you'll work in small groups (usually 5–6 students) and receive mentorship from program sponsors. You’ll apply machine learning, AI, and data visualization skills to real-world problems, giving you practical experience in these fields.
Throughout the program, you’ll interact with industry professionals, university professors, and mentors. The research topics can include extreme weather, software engineering, detecting tick-borne infections and cancers, machine learning workflows, quantum computing, data engineering, and AI.
Location: In person and virtual opportunities offered.
Cost: No cost. Stipend provided.
Application deadline: Varies based on the project, but expect it to be between the months of March-May.
Program Dates: Between June-August
Eligibility: High school students in the US can apply. Those in the Greater Seattle area are encouraged to apply, but program providers might allow students outside the state to apply as well.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) gives you the chance to do hands-on research with faculty at George Mason University and partner labs. You will work on real projects and use the tools and methods used in university research. If you are interested in AI, you can explore topics like machine learning, cybersecurity, data mining, simulations, and data science for social good.
You do not need to be an expert. Whether you are just starting out or already know how to code, you will find useful experience here. Some students also get the chance to publish their research by the end of the internship. Check out previous ASSIP research here.
Location: In-person and virtual opportunities available.
Cost/Stipend: None, but the application costs $25 (which may be waived based on financial needs)
Application deadline: February 2
Program dates: June 18 - August 8
Eligibility: Anyone who is at least 15 years old at the start of the program can apply. This applies to remote internships.
The NASA and UT Austin Center for Space Research (CSR) Summer Intern Program offers a STEM-focused research experience for high school students. If you are interested in AI, you can apply it here by working with NASA satellite data. You will use this data to study Earth systems like gravity fields and ice sheets, which connects to remote sensing and climate science.
You will start with online learning modules, then work remotely with scientists and engineers to analyze real data. Some students may also be selected for an on-site portion in Austin, where housing and meals are provided.
Location: In-person and virtual options available.
Cost: None
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June-July 19 (for virtual projects)
Eligibility: Must be U.S. citizens, current high school sophomores or juniors (rising juniors and seniors), at least 16 years old by July 5, have a strong interest in STEM, and be able to complete online requirements prior to the on-site internship.
The Computer Science department at Colorado School of Mines (CS@Mines) offers a summer internship program for high school and community college students interested in research. This unpaid internship runs for six weeks during the summer and allows you to contribute to computer science projects in small teams. Each team is led by an undergraduate student from Mines.
You can expect to spend around 10 hours per week, with flexibility ranging from 5 to 20 hours depending on your schedule. Remote participation is available. Some of the projects may involve topics relevant to artificial intelligence, such as algorithm design, data analysis, or foundational CS concepts that support AI systems. This could be a good fit if you’re looking to explore how computer science research connects to AI applications.
Location: Remote opportunities available.
Cost: None
Application Deadline: April 18
Program Dates: June to July
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in computer science are eligible to apply.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for high school and college students who want to gain experience in science, engineering, IT, business, and other fields. You’ll work with NASA professionals on real projects and receive mentorship, training, and support to build your skills.
For students interested in AI, one example of a past project is “AI and ML for Air Traffic Management.” In this project, you analyze large sets of audio, text, and tracking data to study how machine learning can improve air traffic systems. It’s a chance to apply AI and robotics knowledge to a real-world problem.
Location: Virtual opportunities available.
Cost: None, A stipend is provided
Application Deadline: Varies from internship to internship
Program Dates: Fall — from late August/early September to mid-December (16 weeks); Spring — from mid-January to early May (16 weeks); Summer — from late May/early June to August (10 weeks)
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. Citizen and meet a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement.
The ASPIRE Program at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory gives high school students the chance to work on real research projects across STEM fields. You will team up with professionals on assignments in computer science, AI, engineering, mathematics, data analysis, cybersecurity, and IT.
If you are interested in AI, you might get to work with data science, machine learning concepts, or algorithm design as part of your project. You will also get to pick a main focus area, with the chance to explore related fields depending on your project.
Location: Virtual or in-person at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Cost: None
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: June 24 - August 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (15+ years old) with a minimum GPA of 2.8. Must be a permanent resident of the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan region.
The EDIT AIML Summer Internship Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center gives you the chance to work on AI and machine learning projects focused on healthcare. Over the course of the internship, you’ll contribute to efforts that aim to improve clinical workflows and patient care through technology.
You’ll work with tools such as Python and R, analyze medical images using gigapixel imaging, and use natural language processing (NLP) techniques to work with clinical text data. The program offers a practical view of how AI is applied in medical settings. At the end, you’ll present your work to researchers and get feedback on your contributions.
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: April 15 — June 15
Eligibility: High school students with a background in computer science can apply.
Eligibility: High school students above the age of 15 and fluent in English can apply.
One other option — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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