Applications for the 2026 free AI4ALL Ignite summer program are now open.  It is a free virtual career accelerator designed to prepare undergraduate students—particularly those from communities historically excluded from the tech industry—for professional roles in AI.
Over the summer, participants work in small teams to build a comprehensive AI portfolio project under the guidance of industry mentors, allowing them to apply technical skills to real-world problems. The program also provides career readiness training, including resume reviews, technical interview preparation, and direct networking opportunities with corporate recruiters.
In the program, which starts on May 12 and ends on October 15, students will:

• Build an industry-relevant AI tech portfolio project with guidance from industry mentors
• Learn Responsible AI through hands-on workshops and real-world discussions
• Engage with industry professionals working at companies like OpenAI, Google, Capital One, and YouTube

Get more information and apply here. The deadline to apply has been extended to 11:59 ​pm. Monday, April 20th.  

Google offers many free online short courses on AI-relevant topics. Here's a list you might explore over the holiday break.

• Introduction to Cloud Computing, Learn cloud basics and why they matter for AI

• Prompt Engineering in Vertex AI,  Learn to write better prompts and get more out of Gemini

• Google AI Essentials (Coursera),  Use AI for productivity, brainstorming, and writing

• What Is Generative AI?,  Beginner-friendly, no coding required

• Large Language Models Explained, Understand how models like ChatGPT actually work

• AI Principles in Google Cloud, How Google applies responsible AI in real products

• Programming Basics, Foundational coding and logical thinking

• Cloud Computing Foundations,, Cloud, big data, and machine learning — together.

• Responsible AI Practices, Build ethical, safe, and inclusive AI systems

• Upskill for the holidays, Links to additional courses relevant to AI

AI as Your Design Sidekick is a free, hands-on, interdisciplinary workshop for founders, designers, and programmers interested in applying AI tools effectively and responsibly. It will be held 5:30-7:30pm on Thursday, October 23, 2025, in the UMBC Imaging Research Center. 

Sponsored by bwtech@UMBC and the UMBC Arts+ Initiative, the event invites students and researchers from all disciplines to explore how AI can enhance innovation, from startup development to web design and technical workflows. The event will include 

• DIY methods for improving your website and content workflows with AI

• SEO and marketing optimization strategies using AI

• Ethical and creative integration of AI across design and tech pipelines

• Live demos, free resources, and discussion on how to stay competitive while keeping human creativity at the center.

• Free food, a raffle for a year of ChatGPT Plus, and a paid internship opportunity.

Register here.

Register and get more information here.

AI4ALL Ignite offers a groundbreaking opportunity for undergraduate students interested in artificial intelligence. This no-cost, virtual AI career accelerator program is designed to prepare students to interview for technical AI internship positions.  As part of the accelerator, participants work on an AI portfolio project directly with AI industry professionals, present the portfolio to peers and industry professionals at an all-day virtual symposium, and cultivate and grow a network within AI. Apply online by January 22.

Students who participate in the Spring 2024 accelerator will be ready to interview for AI technical internship positions by September 2024.  

Key Highlights of AI4ALL Ignite:

• AI Portfolio Project: Students will have the unique opportunity to work on an AI project with peers, receiving mentorship and guidance from industry experts.

• Student Symposium: Participants can present their AI projects in a symposium, providing a platform to network with AI professionals.

• Career Readiness Training: The program includes extensive training focusing on career readiness and preparation for technical AI internship interviews.

• Mock Interviews and Networking: Students can enhance their skills through mock AI technical interviews and engage in networking opportunities with AI recruiters.

• AI Certificate of Completion: Students are awarded an AI4ALL Certificate of Completion at end of the accelerator.

Eligibility and Application Deadlines:

• AI4ALL welcomes all applicants but gives priority to students from historically underrepresented groups in AI, including Black, Hispanic and Latinx, Indigenous, women, gender-expansive, and non-binary individuls.

• Academic prerequisites are: Probability and Statistics; Linear Algebra; Pursuing a major/minor related to Computer Science and similar academic disciplines; and Basic programming skills in Python (e.g. CS1) or another coding language

• Apply online for the Spring 2024 Cohort by January 22, 2024.

• The Spring Ignite program starts in the week of January 29, 2024.