Public-private Investment Expands Paid AI Internships for Massachusetts Students

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll announced a $500,000 public-private investment to expand applied artificial intelligence (AI) learning opportunities for 400 public high school students across Massachusetts. Through paid, virtual internships this summer, students from 76 high schools across 66 school districts are collaborating with industry mentors on applied AI projects, developing deliverables aligned to real business needs across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, clean energy, and biotechnology.

This announcement was made at the quarterly Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council meeting at Britebound in Boston. The Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council brings together leaders from education, industry, and government to advance three statewide priorities: STEM skills through applied learning, guided pathways to college and careers, and alignment with workforce needs through employer partnerships. The paid AI internship program advances all three priorities by giving students hands-on AI experience, connecting them with industry mentors and preparing them for high-demand careers.

“Career-connected learning means helping high-school students understand what a future career can look like in practice — and ensuring those opportunities are accessible to every student, regardless of background or circumstance,” Education Secretary Steve Zrike said. “We’re opening doors for hundreds of young people to build the skills they need for the jobs of the future, including how to use AI ethically and responsibly, and we’re grateful to partners like Britebound for helping us expand that opportunity.”

This AI internship opportunity is funded through $250,000 from the administration’s STEM Advisory Council with a philanthropic match from Britebound. The Massachusetts AI Hub, a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, is administering the program in partnership with the Work-Based Learning Alliance, a national leader in connecting high school students to real-world business challenges through structured, virtual internships.

Employers and industry leaders serve as mentors, helping students build practical AI skills by working on real-world business challenges while strengthening the state’s future workforce. Through the Work-Based Learning Alliance’s fully virtual model, mentors support student teams for two to three hours per week as they develop AI-enabled solutions and deliverables aligned to real business needs. This flexible, turnkey approach makes it easy for organizations to participate while helping cultivate the next generation of AI talent and gaining fresh perspectives on business challenges.

By eliminating transportation barriers and offering paid opportunities, the program is designed to broaden participation in career-connected learning and ensure students from all regions of the state can engage in high-quality STEM experiences.

“Building the workforce of the future starts with giving students opportunities to apply new technologies like AI in real-world settings,” Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley said. “By connecting students with real AI projects and industry mentors, we’re strengthening the talent pipeline that will keep Massachusetts at the forefront of innovation while expanding opportunity for students across the state.”