A free three‑day artificial‑intelligence boot camp for Chicago high school students opens for registration this week, marking the program’s first appearance in the city. The initiative is being run jointly by the Mark Cuban Foundation and Youth Advocate Programs Inc., and will take place in the fall of 2026.
The intensive session is designed to give participating teens a hands‑on introduction to AI concepts and tools. Over the course of three days, students will engage in practical exercises that demonstrate how machine‑learning models are built, how data is processed, and how AI applications are deployed. The curriculum follows the same format used in other U.S. locations since the series began in 2019.
Organizers note that the Chicago offering expands a nationwide effort that has brought similar workshops to a variety of urban and suburban schools across the country. By providing the training at no cost, the partners aim to lower barriers for students who might not otherwise have access to advanced technology education.
Registration is conducted online, with a simple sign‑up portal that guides interested students and their parents through the enrollment steps. The program’s schedule, location details and any required materials will be confirmed with registrants after they complete the online form.
The collaboration between the Mark Cuban Foundation and Youth Advocate Programs Inc. reflects a broader push to integrate emerging technology topics into secondary‑school curricula. As AI continues to shape many aspects of the modern economy, the boot camp seeks to equip the next generation with foundational skills that could influence future academic and career choices.
The upcoming Chicago boot camp represents the latest expansion of a program that has been operating in cities across the United States for seven years, beginning in 2019. It offers a unique, immersive learning experience for local high schoolers eager to explore the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.