We’re Collaborating with the Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI Bootcamps

Exciting news: We’re teaming up with the Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI Bootcamp Initiative to help foster the next generation of technologists and AI practitioners. Codecademy is providing free Pro annual subscriptions to high school students who complete the MCF’s in-person AI bootcamps in November 2024.  

“This collaboration with Codecademy reflects our shared commitment to education for students who are underrepresented in technology careers,” entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban said in a release. “Once students receive foundational knowledge in AI through our bootcamps, they can continue to build on that with free access to Codecademy courses that are used in many in-demand career paths. Our relationship will create a pipeline ready for future innovations because preparing young minds today is an investment in tomorrow’s leaders.” 

The AI Bootcamps Initiative at MCF, the private nonprofit led by Mark Cuban, seeks to empower young people to use emerging technology to create more equitable futures for themselves and their communities. Underserved high school students can attend these free, three-day bootcamps to learn about AI from experts. To date, more than 1,600 students in over 30 cities have attended the MCF AI Bootcamps.  

Tumi Ojo, is a rising freshman in college who attended the MCF AI Bootcamp in Pittsburgh in 2023 and is now a student ambassador and officer for the bootcamps. She appreciated the opportunity to explore her curiosity for STEM outside of a traditional school setting.  

“It was great to spend my Saturdays doing something like that,” Tumi says. “No one really knows what the future of the world will be with AI, so this is a great way to be knowledgeable in the subject and know more about it than the average person.”  

AI tools like ChatGPT are already laced into students’ lives. (Even our interactive Codecademy courses include AI tools and assistance!) The workshops and lectures at the bootcamps help young people think critically about topics like the limits of AI and the ethical implications of AI systems, so they can be informed and responsible AI practitioners. At the end of the bootcamp, students work in groups to create a capstone AI project designed to make a positive impact on their lives.   

With full access to our catalog of coding, AI, data science, and professional skills courses, it’s our hope that these students can continue to explore technology at their own pace, discover a new passion, and develop practical skills that’ll make them a key contributor in any professional setting.  

How to get involved 

Over three consecutive Saturdays, underserved 9-12 grade students can apply to attend the bootcamps to learn foundational AI skills. This year, bootcamps are available for students in 31 locations across the US including: Fargo, North Dakota; Detroit, Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California; and Portland, Oregon. Good to know: the last day to apply is September 30!   

Students don’t need to have a programming background or tech career aspirations to benefit from the bootcamps. “You just need the desire to learn something new about AI —basically a topic that no one really is an expert on quite yet,” Tumi says.  

Visit the MCF website to learn more about how to apply to the MCF AI Bootcamp 2024. Not a high schooler? Your company can volunteer to host a 2025 AI Bootcamp with the MCF in your city. Don’t forget to check out Codecademy’s special discounts for students and educators.