Making AI more accessible
AI4ALL partners with NVIDIA
“I never knew AI could be used for this!”
Our alumni squealed with excitement as we entered the futuristic lobby of NVIDIA’s new Endeavor building for our field trip earlier this month. They had been excitedly discussing algorithms, STEM clubs at school, and, of course, Snapchat on the drive down to NVIDIA’s headquarters in Santa Clara, CA, and they were ready to dive into learning about how artificial intelligence is used at the company. NVIDIA is using its GPUs (graphics processing units) to power AI in applications ranging from computer games to autonomous vehicles, so we knew they’d have a lot to teach us.
We spent the next two hours getting a peek inside NVIDIA’s demo lab, learning about how GPU computing can be used for everything from stunning graphics on gaming PCs to modeling DNA on supercomputers to powering robots that can sort trash. And, we sat down with people at NVIDIA to get advice and insight on what working in AI actually means in practice.
Our alumni are underrepresented high school students who have gone through one of our summer AI programs, where they learned about AI in a university research lab and collaborated on AI research projects. They take pride in building up their community of AI peers, meeting new AI role models, and exploring what’s happening on the cutting edge of AI development. So, it was especially exciting for them to be able to see AI in context, to learn more about how it can be used, and maybe even more importantly, to get exposure to the kinds of jobs that people who work in AI actually have through this field trip.
Expanding access through partnership
By partnering with NVIDIA, AI4ALL will increase our students’ access to AI resources like training through NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Institute, exposure to AI careers through field trips, and access to mentors for our program participants. AI4ALL creates pipelines for underrepresented AI talent, giving high school students early exposure to AI, mentors and career development to ensure long-term success. NVIDIA will help to amplify these efforts by providing additional learning and growth resources to our pipeline of underrepresented talent.
“AI4ALL is doing great work to establish pathways into AI for students who might otherwise encounter barriers that discourage them from getting involved,” said Greg Estes, vice president of Developer Programs at NVIDIA. “Getting diverse voices into the field will help ensure better outcomes for AI, which is why we’re supporting AI4ALL to provide more access to career experiences and educational resources.”
AI4ALL Executive Director Tess Posner echoed this idea, adding, “NVIDIA is helping to amplify and extend our work that enables young people to learn technical skills, get exposure to career opportunities in AI, as well as using the technology in ways that positively impact their communities.”
About AI4ALL
AI4ALL is a nonprofit working to increase diversity and inclusion in artificial intelligence, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. AI4ALL creates pipelines for underrepresented talent through education and mentorship programs around the U.S. and Canada that give high school students early exposure to AI for social good. AI4ALL’s vision is for AI to be developed by a broad group of thinkers and doers advancing AI for humanity’s benefit.
