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Students will be able to collaborate on AI projects during USF’s immersive summer camp, gaining hands-on experience with machine learning, real-world data and emerging technologies alongside university faculty. Photos by Jeremy Maready

• Jeremy Maready
• May 22, 2026
• Artificial Intelligence

High school students interested in AI can spend part of their summer working with generative AI, experimenting with machine learning models and exploring university research through a new immersive intensive led by faculty from the University of South Florida’s Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing.

The five-day camp, scheduled for July 13 through 17, will give students in grades 10 through 12 a glimpse into one of the fastest growing, in-demand fields. They will learn how AI is shaping the workforce, research and everyday life.

No prior coding skills are required, and camp participants will use USF computer labs for the program, so no personal devices are required. The AI & Machine Learning Summer Intensive will be held at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus.

The camp will be led by faculty from the USF’s Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, including Raiyan Abdul Baten, assistant professor and director of the Computational Social Science and AI Lab; FNU Kaleemunnisa, assistant professor of instruction with extensive industry experience as a data scientist; and Ankur Mali, a researcher and assistant professor who specializes in deep learning and natural language processing.

“This is a great chance for students to work closely with USF faculty to develop proficiency in Python programming, use and analyze real-world data sets and create introductory machine learning models,” Baten said. “They will also get to explore generative AI, large language models, prompt engineering and the ethical considerations surrounding artificial intelligence.”

The program emphasizes applied learning. Students will build AI-powered applications, experiment with predictive modeling using local data, and explore how AI intersects with robotics and human-computer interaction. Faculty-led lab visits and interactive demonstrations offer participants a behind-the-scenes look at university-level research and facilities.

An Innovation Fair at the end of the week will allow students to present their final AI or machine learning prototypes to parents, USF faculty and Tampa Bay technology leaders.

The AI & Machine Learning Summer Intensive is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with all instruction taking place in USF computer labs. Enrollment is limited to 30 students to allow for individualized instruction and mentoring. The cost is $795 and spaces are filling up fast.

Camp participants who want to stay on campus can join Rocky’s Residents, which is USF’s residential add-on that provides supervised on-campus housing, meals and evening activities. The additional cost is $1,395 per camper.

For more information or to register, go here.