Angie Carel would love it if Mark Cuban came to town to talk about all things AI.
That may be a long shot, but Carel and a committee have started mapping plans for a Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp this fall.
A well-known businessman and investor, Cuban has a foundation dedicated to making artificial intelligence education more accessible.
Fort Wayne has been selected as one of 30 U.S. cities that will host one of the foundation’s boot camps this fall, according to a Thursday news release.
Carel, who has a marketing background, is founder of AI in FW, which has been hosting networking and informational sessions for about a year. She said nearly 700 people have attended.
The AI Bootcamp will be free for students in grades nine through 12. It will be held over three consecutive Saturdays with five hours of instruction each time in an interactive environment.
The boot camp will focus on how artificial intelligence works, the ethical implications with use and its impact on shaping modern life. The immersive learning experience is designed to inspire “the next generation of tech innovators,” the news release said.
Carel’s team will notify the public when the application process opens. Capacity will depend on demand but could be at least 30 students, she said in a phone interview.
“Realizing the full potential of this program will require community engagement and financial support,” the news release said.
Individuals and organizations willing to help through sponsorships, volunteering or other ways can complete an online interest form at www.angiecarel.com/mark-cuban-ai-bootcamp.
Cuban, known as an investor in the Dallas Mavericks and as a “Shark Tank” TV personality, provides insight into his AI interest through the foundation’s website.
“I saw the impact of PCs. Then I saw the impact of local area networks. Then I saw the impact of wide area networks. Then I saw the impact of the internet. Then I saw the impact of mobile. Then I saw the impact of wireless. Now I’m seeing the impact of artificial intelligence. And it dwarfs any of those things,” he said.
Fort Wayne boot camp applications will be reviewed by Cuban’s foundation.
“They’re looking for what they call underexposed, … kids that don’t have access to the technology traditionally; kids that are underprivileged,” Carel said Thursday.
Her enthusiasm and efforts won’t be limited to hosting the boot camp. Carel hopes to generate additional interest and scheduling several other AI-related events and activities over the three-week period in November.
Fort Wayne’s selection for a boot camp came after Carel made a plea on LinkedIn after she said applications to host this year had closed. She encouraged others to also let Cuban know of local interest; many did, also tagging his name.
“It wasn’t hundreds of people, but it was enough,” she said, to get the attention of his representatives. One of them eventually responded, Carel said, asking her to “DM” – or direct message – the foundation.
Carel has inquired about the prospect of Cuban, an Indiana University graduate, coming to Fort Wayne, but she knows it’s a long shot, she said.
Still, Carel is contemplating a social media campaign with some kind of “We (heart emoji) Mark Cuban” messaging.
“His representative said that he is just so busy that they think the very most we could possibly get is a video message,” Carel said. “We’ll try to do something to get his attention, but he’s an important guy.”
