Exploring AI Foundations and Social Media Impact

Monday marked the first full day of the Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology Internship, beginning with an Introduction to AI & Emerging Technologies led by Dr. Daniel Spar. This session traced the history of artificial intelligence, exploring its earliest breakthroughs and the modern innovations shaping industries today. Interns examined how AI systems analyze massive datasets, drive autonomous vehicles, and even assist in life-saving medical diagnoses.

The morning continued with “Machine Learning Basics,” taught by Dr. Alberto Espinosa of American University. Dr. Espinosa broke down core concepts like supervised and unsupervised learning, classification, and regression. Interns were captivated by real-world examples, such as how AI predicts online shopping trends or detects fraudulent activity.

After the morning lectures, interns met in their teams to prepare for their upcoming AI Business Partner Meetings. Guided by staff, interns worked together to brainstorm thoughtful questions to guide their initial conversations. They focused on creating introductory questions to learn more about their partner’s mission, operations, and goals. Teams also drafted targeted inquiries to better understand pain points within the business and identify opportunities where AI could streamline operations, enhance customer engagement, or improve decision-making. 

In the afternoon, interns dove into Hands-on Lab 1: Python for AI, led by Giacomo. This lab introduced the fundamentals of Python programming using libraries like NumPy, pandas, and matplotlib. interns practiced writing basic scripts, explored data manipulation, and learned how to build simple algorithms. To cap off the session, interns applied their new coding skills to a playful yet complex challenge: automating a game of Connect Four. They wrote a script that allowed the computer to determine and execute the optimal move as the second player, training their logic and problem-solving muscles while experiencing how AI models can mimic decision-making in games.

In the late afternoon, interns had their first AI Business Partner Meetings, consulting directly with leaders such as Larry Davis of Green Mechanics Benefit LLC, Mireille Raad of Sustainably, and Rahama Wright of Shea Yeleen. These sessions gave interns valuable insight into the unique challenges each partner faces and laid the groundwork for developing meaningful AI-driven solutions.

The evening wrapped up with Marc’s workshop on business terminology and project strategy, helping interns bridge the gap between technical ideas and business application. The day concluded with a team-led exploration of Georgetown, where interns bonded with peers and reflected on their early takeaways.