15 AI Internships for Undergraduates in California
If you're an undergraduate student, internships can play an important role in shaping your academic and professional journey. They’ll help you build a stronger resume, develop practical skills, and improve your chances of securing full-time roles after graduation. If you are interested in artificial intelligence, exploring internships in this field allows you to work on areas like machine learning, data science, and AI systems while understanding how these technologies are used in practice. California, being a major hub for technology companies and research labs, offers a wide range of opportunities in this space.
Why should you do an artificial intelligence internship in college?
Pursuing an artificial intelligence internship during college allows you to gain hands-on experience with tools, frameworks, and real datasets that are commonly used in the industry. You’ll develop technical skills such as programming, data analysis, and model development, while also improving problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. These internships often involve collaboration with engineers, researchers, or product teams, helping you understand how AI projects are built and deployed at scale. You may also get opportunities to contribute to research, build prototypes, or present your work, which can strengthen your academic and professional profile.
To make your search easier, we have curated a list of 15 AI internships for undergraduates in California that cover research, engineering, and applied AI roles.
Quick Look
15 internships total spanning AI research, healthcare AI, autonomous vehicles, content moderation, and generative AI adoption, hosted by companies including Google, Tesla, NVIDIA, and Amazon
Pay varies enormously, from unpaid research-based roles at Stanford's AIDE Lab to Amazon's $77.64 per hour Member of Technical Staff Intern role, one of the highest disclosed rates across this entire internship series
NVIDIA and Rivian both offer wide pay ranges depending on role and location, $20 to $71 per hour and $26 to $51 per hour respectively
The Center for Human-Compatible AI at Berkeley pays a flat monthly stipend rather than hourly, $5,000 for in-person work and $3,500 for remote
Most internships are based in the South Bay and Peninsula area, including Mountain View, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and Santa Clara, with a few, like AfterQuery, fully remote
1. Stanford AIDE Lab Summer Internship
Location: Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
Stipend: Unpaid or research-based (varies)
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Early spring
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in AI, ML, data science, or related fields
The Lab Summer Internship Program at Stanford’s Radiology AI lab focuses on real-world applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare. You’ll work on model development, evaluation, and deployment with faculty mentors. The internship emphasizes hands-on research using real datasets and tools. You’ll collaborate with researchers and contribute to impactful AI-driven healthcare solutions. It’s highly research-oriented and ideal if you're considering grad school.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies (financial aid available); Unpaid
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered a year, typically about 8 weeks long
Application Deadline: Rolling; Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who can commit approximately 10-20 hours per week for 8-12 weeks
In this internship program, you will be placed with a high-growth startup and work in areas such as technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, or consulting. You’ll join a startup team and contribute to projects related to operations, research, or product development. During the internship, you’ll work closely with a startup manager and receive mentorship and feedback from a Ladder Coach. Your responsibilities may include research, strategy work, content creation, or other project-based tasks, depending on the company’s needs. As the program progresses, you’ll develop professional communication and problem-solving skills while gaining experience in a startup setting. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your work or key findings to the startup team or leadership.
3. Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) Program
Location: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA
Stipend: $650 per week
Dates: 10 weeks from late June – late August
Application Deadline: October 23 – January 7; Details here
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (18+) in STEM with a minimum GPA of 3.0; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
In this internship, you’ll work on a research project under the guidance of a scientist or engineer at one of the leading U.S. national laboratories. Your work can span areas like astrophysics, particle physics, materials science, environmental science, or scientific computing, depending on your interests and background. Over the course of the program, you’ll contribute to ongoing research while building technical and analytical skills through hands-on experimentation and data analysis. You’ll also attend scientific lectures, professional development workshops, and lab tours that expose you to different research areas and career paths. At the end of the internship, you’ll prepare a research paper and deliver a short presentation.
4. Center for Human-Compatible AI (CHAI) Internship
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA + Virtual
Stipend: $5,000 per month (in-person); $3,500 per month (remote)
Dates: 12-16 weeks (flexible start; typically summer)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: International or domestic undergraduate or master’s students in computer science, machine learning, mathematics, or related fields; Prior ML research experience preferred but not required
In this internship, you’ll work on a research project in human-compatible AI under the supervision of a mentor, often taking primary ownership of the work. Your project may be individually driven or part of a small team effort, with outcomes sometimes leading to workshop or conference publications. Throughout the internship, you’ll develop skills in machine learning research, problem-solving, and technical communication while receiving regular guidance and feedback from experienced researchers. You will also be encouraged to participate in weekly seminars, workshops, and team discussions that expose you to ongoing research in AI alignment and safety. The program allows you to collaborate with professionals and researchers in the field while contributing to active research questions. The structure emphasizes independent work, mentorship, and opportunities to engage with a broader research community.
5. Apple Internships: National Women's Case Competition
Location: Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: Summer or Fall (exact duration not specified)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students graduating in December or later; Must return to school after the internship
In this internship, you’ll work across a range of technical and business-focused teams, including software engineering, machine learning and AI, hardware, product design, and operations. Depending on your area, you’ll contribute to projects such as developing system-level software, working on machine learning models, supporting hardware design and testing, or assisting in product development processes. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams, gaining exposure to how different functions integrate to build and deliver products. Throughout the internship, you’ll develop technical, analytical, and communication skills while working in a fast-paced environment with structured project responsibilities. The experience may also involve participating in initiatives like case competitions, where you’ll apply problem-solving skills to real-world scenarios. The program emphasizes collaboration, hands-on work, and exposure to large-scale product development processes.
6. TikTok (Product Governance Efficiency): AI Product Operations Intern
Location: TikTok, San Jose, CA
Stipend: $25/hour
Dates: 12 weeks from May to June
Application Deadline: Not specified (rolling)
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students graduating between December and September of the following year; Must have majors in computer science, data science, product management, or related fields
In this internship, you’ll support the Content Ecosystem team by working on data pipelines and operational processes related to large language models and content governance. Your responsibilities include assisting with data collection, quality checks, and aligning content moderation policies while learning how platform-level systems function. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams such as recommendation algorithms, Trust & Safety, and R&D, gaining exposure to how large-scale platforms manage content and user experience. Throughout the internship, you’ll develop analytical and problem-solving skills by identifying issues in workflows and contributing to process improvements. You’ll also participate in discussions around optimizing AI-driven systems and content moderation strategies. The program provides hands-on experience in platform operations, collaboration across teams, and exposure to real-world applications of AI in social media systems.
7. Google: Student Researcher Program
Location: Google, Mountain View, CA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: Flexible (typically January to July)
Application Deadline: July 17 (rolling)
Eligibility: Undergraduate or Master’s students in computer science or related technical fields; Must be enrolled and returning to studies after the program
In this program, you’ll work on research projects aligned with real-world problems in areas such as machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and data science. You will be matched with a team across different research groups, where you’ll collaborate on exploratory projects that contribute to ongoing scientific and technological advancements. Your work may involve developing algorithms, analyzing data, or supporting the creation of new systems and tools. Throughout the program, you’ll engage with researchers and engineers, gaining exposure to interdisciplinary collaboration and large-scale problem solving. The structure is flexible, allowing variations in duration and work format depending on the project and team needs.
8. NVIDIA: Deep Learning Internships
Location: NVIDIA, Santa Clara, CA
Stipend: $20 – $71 per hour
Dates: 12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD students in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or related fields; Must be enrolled for the full internship duration
In this internship, you’ll work on projects related to deep learning, focusing on areas such as algorithm development, GPU optimization, and building frameworks for AI applications. Depending on your role, you may develop and optimize deep learning models, contribute to libraries like PyTorch or TensorFlow, or work on performance improvements for GPU-based systems. You’ll collaborate with engineering and research teams, gaining exposure to high-performance computing and large-scale AI systems. Throughout the internship, you’ll apply concepts from areas like neural networks, parallel computing, and system design to real-world problems. Your work may involve coding, testing, and analyzing performance across different hardware and software environments.
9. Tesla: AI Engineering Internship
Location: Tesla, Palo Alto, CA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students with strong backgrounds in machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer science, software engineering, or related fields; Experience with Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, deep learning, and large-scale model training preferred
In this internship, you'll work on cutting-edge AI research and engineering projects that support Tesla's autonomy and intelligent systems initiatives. You'll contribute to the development of large-scale foundation models, generative AI systems, reinforcement learning frameworks, and end-to-end learning solutions for real-world applications. Depending on your team, you may train and optimize large language models, computer vision networks, diffusion models, or multimodal AI systems using one of the world's largest AI training infrastructures. You'll collaborate closely with researchers and engineers to improve data engines, design novel model architectures, and develop scalable machine learning pipelines. Throughout the internship, you'll apply advanced concepts such as reinforcement learning, self-supervised learning, imitation learning, distributed training, and world modeling to complex real-world challenges. Your work may ultimately be deployed in production and impact millions of Tesla customers through the company's autonomous driving and AI-powered products.
10. Snowflake: Applied AI Technical Enablement Intern
Location: Snowflake Inc., Menlo Park, CA
Stipend: $28 – $32 per hour
Dates: 12 weeks
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students in computer science, data science, IT, or related fields; Preference for students with hackathon or campus leadership experience
In this internship, you’ll work at the intersection of AI, education, and community engagement by supporting initiatives that promote the adoption of data and AI technologies. Your responsibilities may include developing learning materials such as labs and modules, assisting with academic programs, and contributing to content that supports student and educator communities. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams across product, community, and enablement functions, gaining exposure to how technical tools are communicated and implemented in real-world settings. You may also engage with student groups and hackathons, helping drive awareness and usage of AI data platforms. Throughout the internship, you’ll build skills in technical communication, project coordination, and applied AI concepts. The program emphasizes hands-on contributions, collaboration, and experience with both technical development and community-focused initiatives.
11. Sony Pictures Entertainment: AI Enablement Intern
Location: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Culver City, CA
Stipend: $27 per hour
Dates: June 1, 8, or 15 – August 28
Application Deadline: March 24
Eligibility: Undergraduate students currently enrolled in a university; familiarity with generative AI tools and basic programming (e.g., Python) preferred
In this internship, you’ll support the rollout and adoption of enterprise AI tools within a large entertainment organization. Your work will include assisting teams in experimenting with generative AI use cases, building and testing custom GPT applications, and helping develop workflows that integrate AI into business operations. You’ll collaborate with multiple departments, gaining exposure to how AI tools are implemented across creative and operational teams. Throughout the internship, you’ll contribute to documentation, training materials, and internal resources that support AI adoption. You may also work with automation tools and scripts to improve efficiency in workflows.
12. Rivian: AI, Machine Learning & Data Science Internships
Location: Rivian, Palo Alto & Irvine, CA
Stipend: $26 – $51 per hour (location-dependent)
Dates: Summer (exact duration not specified)
Application Deadline: Rolling (no fixed deadline)
Eligibility: Undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD students in computer science, AI, robotics, or related fields
In this internship, you’ll work on projects across areas such as machine learning, data science, autonomous driving, and perception engineering. Your responsibilities may include developing and testing machine learning models, analyzing large datasets, or contributing to systems that support autonomous vehicle technologies. You’ll collaborate with engineering teams, gaining exposure to how AI and data-driven solutions are applied in real-world automotive systems. Throughout the internship, you’ll apply programming and analytical skills using tools like Python, SQL, or frameworks such as TensorFlow and PyTorch. You may also work on improving algorithms, troubleshooting data-related issues, and supporting the development of scalable systems.
13. Amazon: Member of Technical Staff Intern (AGI)
Location: Amazon, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $77.64 per hour
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in computer science, data science, engineering, or related STEM fields
In this internship, you’ll work within a research-focused team developing AI agents that combine large language models and reinforcement learning. Your responsibilities include building tools to support research workflows, running experiments, and contributing to the development and scaling of AI systems. You’ll collaborate closely with researchers, gaining exposure to areas such as reasoning, planning, and agent-based AI in both digital and physical environments. Throughout the internship, you’ll apply software engineering skills to design, test, and maintain systems while adapting to evolving research priorities. You may also engage in project planning, communication, and execution in a fast-paced environment. The program emphasizes hands-on research engineering, collaboration with experienced teams, and exposure to emerging advancements in artificial general intelligence.
14. Research Roles at Meta: AI & Systems Co-design / AI Networking
Location: Meta Platforms, Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students in computer science or related fields with a strong interest or experience in AI systems, machine learning, or distributed computing
In this research-focused opportunity, you’ll work on large-scale AI systems that support training and deployment of machine learning models across data center infrastructure. Your work may involve optimizing distributed training systems, improving communication between GPUs, or contributing to model efficiency through techniques like compression and parallelization. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams, including infrastructure, product, and research groups, gaining exposure to how AI systems are designed and scaled in production environments. The role includes analyzing system performance, prototyping solutions, and contributing to improvements in the reliability and efficiency of AI workloads. You’ll also engage with ongoing research directions in areas such as generative AI, high-performance computing, and distributed machine learning.
15. AfterQuery: AI/ML Research Intern
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: Flexible (10-40 hours per week commitment)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate or Master’s students in AI, machine learning, computer science, or related fields
In this internship, you’ll work closely with a research team on projects focused on advanced AI systems such as reasoning models, agent-based systems, and computer-use applications. Your responsibilities will include supporting experiment design, analyzing datasets, and helping develop and test algorithms related to machine learning and AI. You’ll collaborate with researchers and other interns on interdisciplinary projects while contributing to research documentation and discussions. Throughout the internship, you’ll build technical skills in areas like data analysis, model development, and research communication. You may also have opportunities to co-author research papers and present findings, depending on your contributions. The program emphasizes hands-on research work, collaboration with experienced professionals, and exposure to ongoing developments in AI research.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. The pay range on this list is huge, from unpaid to over $77 an hour. What explains that gap?
Pay generally reflects how technical and production-critical the role is, along with the size and funding of the company. Amazon's AGI-focused role and NVIDIA's deep learning internships sit at the top of the range because they involve advanced technical work at extremely well-funded companies. Stanford's AIDE Lab, by contrast, is unpaid or research-based, since it's an academic research position rather than a corporate engineering role, though it offers strong research credibility if you're considering graduate school. As a general rule, the corporate engineering and applied AI roles tend to pay more than academic or research lab positions on this list.
2. I'm interested in AI but don't have a strong machine learning background yet. Are there options here for me?
Yes, a few roles are designed to be more accessible than the heavily technical engineering positions. TikTok's AI Product Operations Intern role and Sony Pictures' AI Enablement Intern role both focus more on operations, workflow, and adoption of AI tools rather than building models from scratch, making them good entry points if you're earlier in your technical journey. Snowflake's Applied AI Technical Enablement role is similarly accessible, focused on education and community engagement around AI tools rather than deep technical development. If you want to build toward the more advanced roles like Tesla or NVIDIA, these are reasonable starting points.
3. How do research-focused internships like CHAI and Google's Student Researcher Program differ from product-focused roles like Tesla or Rivian?
Research-focused internships like CHAI and Google's program center on open-ended research questions, often with the goal of contributing to publications or ongoing scientific work, and tend to offer more independence and mentorship from researchers. Product-focused roles like Tesla and Rivian are more applied, where your work is tied directly to a product, like autonomous driving systems, that may be deployed and used by real customers. If you're considering graduate school or a research career, the research-focused programs are the stronger fit; if you want to see your work shipped into a real product, the applied engineering roles offer that more directly.