You may know him from his pharmaceutical company Cost Plus Drugs or from his previous ownership of the Dallas Mavericks. Otherwise you are forced to know him from his business onwards Shark tank.
But for many students, Mark Cuban is the reason they are able to learn one of the most important emerging skills right now: artificial intelligence.
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This year, in more than 18 cities across the country, high school students will be able to learn the latest developments in artificial intelligence, including ChatGPT, completely free through the Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI Bootcamps initiative.
“There are two types of companies in the world right now: those that understand AI and those that don’t,” Cuban says Fortune in an email.
“I want to see more children ready and excited to learn more about artificial intelligence and take part in the way it is changing society. By democratizing AI education, we empower these kids to shape their futures and contribute meaningfully to the digital economy.”
Bringing free AI education nationwide
Founded in 2019, thousands of students undergo AI training in subjects such as machine learning, natural language processing, and AI ethics.
The requirements to apply for the 2024 bootcamps are simple. In fact, you don’t need any knowledge of coding or technology. Students only need to be in 9th-12th grade next school year and live within driving distance of one of the camps. Positions include:
- California: Pasadena; view of the mountains
- Florida: Fort Lauderdale; You love me; Palm Beach Gardens
- Georgia: Atlanta
- Illinois: Chicago
- Indiana: Indianapolis
- Michigan: Detroit; Pontiac
- Minnesota: Minneapolis
- Missouri: St. Louis
- Nebraska: Omaha
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
- Texas: Addison; Houston; Floor
- Washington DC
For 2024, each bootcamp will take place over three Saturdays, November 2, 9, and 16, and will host 20 to 25 students. The teachers are made up of volunteers from local businesses and societies. Previously, these included AI experts from Walmart and McDonald’s.
“It’s not so much that we are addressing gaps in education, but that we recognize that teaching children cutting-edge technologies is not the strength of most public schools. We are removing as many barriers as possible to give our students a practical way to learn about AI and actually use the technology to create applications that solve problems in their daily lives,” says Cuban.
Many universities have taken similar approaches to teaching the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence. Schools like Columbia, Caltech, and the University of Houston offer AI bootcamps. And even companies like Google and IBM have the opportunity to learn artificial intelligence-related subjects, such as prompt engineering, online. However, many offers vary in price and are largely entirely virtual.
The Cuban emphasis on education
This is not Cuba’s first foray into education. For years, he has argued in favor of making college more accessible and easing the burden it places on students, especially when it comes to student loan debt.
In 2014, it launched a watch of U.S. student loan debt (currently totaling more than $2.1 trillion, which exceeds credit card and auto loan debt combined). Most recently, you expressed your support for President Joe Biden’s initial proposal to forgive $10,000 of student loan debt per borrower.
But more importantly, Cuban noted that having a liberal arts education — and applying it to the world of technology — can be extremely valuable.
“It is necessary to teach AI about the world as it happens and provide different perspectives on the output of models. So try to find ways to apply your liberal arts education to AI and I think you will be more appreciated than people expect,” she notes.
Artificial intelligence is expected to transform the nature of the workforce in the coming years, with some jobs likely to be replaced and many others supplemented by new technology. According to the International Monetary Fund, around 60% of jobs in advanced economies could be affected by artificial intelligence.
The Cuban boot camp hopes to play a role in preparing students for the school and jobs of the future.
“I hope students use their new skills to innovate, create, and ultimately revolutionize industries,” Cuban says. “The goal is for them to apply what they have learned to build successful businesses and solve problems in their communities. And we hope that the camp is just the beginning of their AI journey and that they continue to learn.”