Girl Geeks Launch AI High

Girl Geek Academy are encouraging high school principals to ensure girls are enrolled in "AI High", a new program teaching teenagers AI skill.

AI High is a community of 2000 high school girls and non-binary folk learning AI together.

"We’ll be creating a community of high school students making friends, building AI together and preparing themselves for a bright career in technology,” Girl Geek Academy Co-founder Lisy Kane said, noting the initiative promises to equip young women and gender-diverse students with the necessary tools to become leaders in the technology sector.

"Learning AI is pivotal in closing the gender divide in tech. AI High will enable young women to not only benefit from, but be play a leadership role in the creation of new AI technologies," said Kane, an experienced leader in AI for game development."

A report released last week from ANU shows a significant drop in student enrolment in information and communication technologies (ICT) subjects in Years 11 and 12 in Australian schools, which leads to fewer students likely to pursue ICT in further education and professional careers.

“Studying technology subjects is often an isolating experience within your own school: there’s a lack of community and it’s rare to find mentors who are passionate about sharing new technology. However, “pair programming” with mates is critical to building new tech, and this program will connect young people at a national level to work together and meet new friends, regardless of where they live,” Kane said.

School principals, teachers and parents are being asked to share the EOI for AI High with high school students they know and to reach out to the Girl Geek Academy team with any questions.

Technology companies looking to get involved and potentially collaborate with Girl Geek Academy are also encouraged to get in touch. Further details about the program will evolve in the coming weeks as more partners are announced.

Girl Geek Academy is a social enterprise dedicated to achieving gender equality in the technology industry and aims to bring one million women and girls into technology careers by 2030 through a range of programs.