AI Literacy Bootcamp: From Machine Learning to Generative AI

Explore the foundations, applications, and ethics of artificial intelligence.
Price
$2,000
Format
In-person
Sessions
Jul 27 - Jul 31
Contact
Anna Fairs
inspire.northern@virginia.edu

About the program

This intensive one-week AI literacy bootcamp empowers high school students to understand and critically engage with artificial intelligence. Through hands-on exploration using beginner-friendly no-code platforms, students will learn how AI systems actually work, from the fundamentals of machine learning and deep learning to cutting-edge technologies like computer vision, natural language processing, and generative AI. Students will build and test their own AI models, master prompt engineering skills, analyze how AI processes images and text in real-world applications, and develop critical skills to identify biased algorithms and detect AI-generated content.

Throughout the week, students will wrestle with essential ethical questions about privacy, fairness, and AI’s societal impact, while discovering career opportunities across diverse industries.  Each day combines interactive lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative activities to make AI accessible and engaging. For example, in the image classification activity, students use Google’s Teachable Machine to train their own computer vision model to recognize everyday objects like pens, paper, and water bottles. They collect training images using their webcam, train a neural network in minutes, test its accuracy with different objects and lighting conditions, and then reflect on what makes classification easy or difficult for AI. Through activities like this, students not only learn how AI works under the hood, but also discover its limitations.

Students will explore real-world applications across industries from healthcare to entertainment and consider career pathways in this rapidly evolving field. By the end of the week, students leave with practical AI skills, critical thinking tools to evaluate AI systems, and the confidence to navigate an AI-powered future. 

Important Note: The price listed reflects early-bird pricing and will change on Sunday, March 1.

This is an in-person course that meets daily Monday-Friday in Fairfax, 9AM – 4PM ET. Tuition covers materials, meals (lunch/snacks), and transportation to any off-site excursions.

Faculty

Click the photos below to learn more about each faculty member.

Skills you will learn

  • Explain the difference between AI, machine learning, and deep learning.
  • Apply the machine learning and deep learning workflow to build and test AI models.
  • Analyze computer vision and Natural Language Processing applications.
  • Explore and apply generative AI, transformers, and large language models.
  • Evaluate privacy concerns, fairness issues, and societal impacts of AI.
  • Identify real-world uses of AI across different industries and learn about career paths in AI and tech.

Out of the classroom

  • Each Friday Field trip is specific to the class and aimed at bringing the learning alive.
  • Get out of the classroom and visit local companies.

Please note: All information is subject to change at the discretion of UVA Northern Virginia.