The Stevens Initiative AI Ignite Lab is a pilot program designed to prepare young people in the United States and United Arab Emirates for future careers by combining artificial intelligence, human-centered design, cross-cultural collaboration, digital storytelling, and community-based action.
The program brings together participants between the ages of 18 and 24 from both countries to explore how AI and emerging technologies can be used to address real-world challenges and create positive social impact in their communities.
Through a structured four-week virtual Learning Lab, an intensive two-day Ideas Lab, team collaboration, and a final Day of Action, participants will move from learning about AI and design approaches to developing and implementing practical ideas in their own communities.
The program is intended to help participants develop practical skills that can be applied beyond the program, including AI-supported problem-solving, design thinking, communication, collaboration, leadership, and project development.
What Is the Stevens Initiative AI Ignite Lab?
The AI Ignite Lab is an experiential learning program that connects young people from the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
Rather than focusing only on technical AI knowledge, the program combines technology with human-centered approaches to help participants understand the needs of their communities and develop solutions that respond to real challenges.
The program brings together several areas of learning:
- Artificial intelligence and emerging technology
- Human-centered design
- Cross-cultural collaboration
- Digital storytelling
- Social impact
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Leadership
- Project development
Participants will work with peers from another country, giving them the opportunity to learn from different perspectives and understand how communities in different cultural contexts approach challenges and opportunities.
How the AI Ignite Lab Works
The program is structured around several connected stages.
Participants first develop their knowledge and skills through the virtual Learning Lab. They then move into an intensive Ideas Lab where they work on turning ideas into concrete plans.
Following this, participants refine their projects with their teams before implementing their plans during the Day of Action.
The program concludes with a virtual celebration where participants return to the full cohort to reflect on their experiences and share what they accomplished.
The major stages include:
- Learning Lab
- Ideas Lab
- Team coordination and project refinement
- Day of Action
- Culminating Virtual Celebration
Learning Lab
The Learning Lab runs from October 10 to October 31.
This stage is designed to build participants’ foundational skills in:
- AI
- Design thinking
- Cross-cultural collaboration
- Developing solutions for social impact
The Learning Lab takes place virtually and requires approximately four hours per week.
This includes:
- A two-hour live session
- Approximately two hours of asynchronous preparation
- Individual activities
- Small-group touchpoints
Live Learning Lab Sessions
The live sessions are scheduled for:
- October 10
- October 17
- October 24
- October 31
The stated session time is 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time, which corresponds to 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM UAE Time according to the program information.
Participants should ensure that they can attend these required sessions before submitting an application.
What Participants Learn During the Learning Lab
The Learning Lab is intended to give participants the tools they need to move from identifying community needs to thinking about possible technology-supported solutions.
Artificial Intelligence
Participants will explore AI and emerging technologies and consider how they can be applied to real-world challenges.
The emphasis is not simply on learning about technology but on understanding how technology can potentially contribute to social impact.
Design Thinking
Human-centered design is another important part of the program.
Participants will learn approaches for understanding community needs and developing ideas that are relevant to the people and communities they are intended to serve.
Cross-Cultural Collaboration
Because participants come from the United States and the United Arab Emirates, cross-cultural collaboration is an important element of the experience.
Participants will work alongside people from another cultural context, allowing them to exchange ideas and perspectives while developing their projects.
Social Impact
The program encourages participants to think about how AI and emerging technologies can be used to address challenges within their communities.
This gives participants an opportunity to connect technology with practical community needs.
Ideas Lab
The Ideas Lab takes place on November 7 and 8.
This is an intensive two-day sprint designed to help participants transform their ideas into a concrete plan for their Day of Action.
Participants will work with their partners and teams to develop their project plans and prepare for implementation.
The total commitment is approximately 12 hours across the two days.
This consists of:
- Four hours of live programming each day
- Approximately two additional hours of partner work each day
Live Ideas Lab Sessions
The live sessions are scheduled for:
- November 7
- November 8
The stated time is 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time, corresponding to 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM UAE Time.
Team Coordination and Project Refinement
Following the Ideas Lab, participants will have time to work with their teams and refine their projects.
This stage runs from November 9 to November 13.
During this period, participants will coordinate with their partners, make final adjustments to their plans, and prepare for the Day of Action.
The project refinement period is important because participants will be moving from planning to actual implementation.
Day of Action
The Day of Action takes place on November 14.
This is when participants take their ideas beyond the virtual program and put them into practice in their own communities.
Participants will implement a locally relevant project or intervention based on the plan they developed throughout the program.
The Day of Action therefore provides an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills developed during the Learning Lab and Ideas Lab to a real-world situation.
Digital Storytelling and TikTok/Reel Submission
Digital storytelling is part of the broader AI Ignite Lab experience.
Following the Day of Action, participants are required to submit a TikTok or Reel by November 18.
This provides another opportunity for participants to communicate their experience and share their project through digital media.
Culminating Virtual Celebration
The program concludes with a Culminating Virtual Celebration on November 21.
The session is scheduled for:
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time
which corresponds to:
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM UAE Time.
During this final gathering, participants will return to the full cohort to:
- Reflect on the program
- Share what they accomplished
- Discuss their experiences
- Celebrate the completion of the program
Key Program Dates
The complete timeline provided for the AI Ignite Lab is as follows:
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Application opens | September 8, 2026 |
| Application closes | September 24, 2026 |
| Finalists selected | September 28, 2026 |
| Learning Lab | October 10–31, 2026 |
| Ideas Lab | November 7–8, 2026 |
| Team coordination/project refinement | November 9–13, 2026 |
| Day of Action | November 14, 2026 |
| TikTok/Reel due | November 18, 2026 |
| Culminating Virtual Celebration | November 21, 2026 |
Application Deadline
The application deadline is:
September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time.
Applicants should ensure that their applications are submitted through the designated application portal before the stated deadline.
Because the program requires participants to attend multiple live sessions and complete asynchronous and small-group work, applicants should review the full schedule before applying.
Who Can Apply?
The AI Ignite Lab has specific eligibility requirements.
Age Requirement
Applicants must be between 18 and 24 years old.
More specifically, applicants must be:
- At least 18 years old; and
- No older than 24 years old by September 24, 2026.
Applicants outside this age range do not meet the stated age requirement.
Country of Residence
Applicants must currently reside in either:
- The United States; or
- The United Arab Emirates.
The program is specifically designed to bring together young people from these two countries.
This means that applicants living in countries outside the United States and UAE are not included within the geographic eligibility requirements provided.
Technology Requirements
Because substantial parts of the AI Ignite Lab take place online, participants must have access to the technology required for participation.
Applicants will need:
- A computer
- Reliable internet access
- A microphone
- A webcam
Limited support for internet data costs may be available to selected participants who demonstrate financial need.
Applicants should therefore ensure that they can participate effectively in the virtual components of the program.
Banking Requirement for Selected Participants
Selected participants will receive funding to support their Day of Action.
To receive these funds, participants must have access to a bank account registered in their own name that can accept transfers from U.S. organizations.
Banking information will not be requested during the initial application process. According to the program information, it will only be requested if an applicant is selected.
This requirement is therefore particularly important for applicants who progress to the selection stage.
Full Participation Requirement
The AI Ignite Lab is described as an intensive, hands-on program.
Applicants must be able to commit to the complete program, including:
- Required live sessions
- Asynchronous activities
- Individual work
- Small-group collaboration
- Partner coordination
- The Day of Action
- The final virtual celebration
Participants should carefully review the program calendar before applying because full participation is required.
Applying With a Partner
Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to apply with a partner from the same city or local community.
Applying with a local partner can provide several practical advantages within the program structure.
For example, two people from the same community may already have a shared understanding of local challenges and can collaborate closely when developing and implementing their Day of Action project.
However, applying with a partner is not mandatory.
If You Apply With a Partner
Each person must complete and submit their own separate application.
Applications should contain unique and individual responses rather than identical submissions.
Applicants who are applying with a partner must also provide their partner’s full name in the designated section of the application form.
Visit HERE to learn more about the Stevens Initiative AI Ignite Lab 2026
Applying Without a Partner
Applicants who do not have a partner can still apply.
The program states that it will make efforts to pair accepted solo participants based on factors such as:
- Location
- Proximity
- Shared interests
Therefore, not having a partner should not prevent an eligible individual from applying.
Skills Participants Can Develop
The AI Ignite Lab is designed to provide practical development across several areas.
AI-Supported Problem-Solving
Participants will explore how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can support approaches to real-world problems.
Design Thinking
The program introduces participants to human-centered approaches for understanding community needs and developing solutions.
Communication
Participants will develop their ability to communicate ideas, work with others and present their projects.
Cross-Cultural Collaboration
Working with participants from the United States and UAE provides experience collaborating across different cultural contexts.
Leadership
The hands-on nature of the program gives participants opportunities to take responsibility for developing and implementing projects.
Project Development
Participants will move through the process of developing an idea, creating a plan, refining it with their team and implementing it within their community.
Digital Storytelling
The program also provides an opportunity to communicate experiences and project outcomes through digital media.
Community Impact
A major feature of the AI Ignite Lab is the opportunity to connect learning with action.
Instead of completing the program entirely through online discussions or classroom-style activities, participants are expected to develop and implement a locally relevant project or intervention during the Day of Action.
This structure allows participants to apply their learning to an actual community context.
The program therefore connects:
AI skills → Design thinking → Collaboration → Project development → Community action
Benefits of Participating
Participants are expected to emerge from the AI Ignite Lab with practical experience that can contribute to their future academic and professional development.
Potential benefits include:
1. Practical AI Experience
Participants gain experience exploring the application of AI and emerging technology to real-world challenges.
2. Design and Innovation Skills
The program provides exposure to human-centered design and creative problem-solving.
3. International Network
Participants will build connections with young people from the United States and United Arab Emirates.
4. Cross-Cultural Experience
Working across cultures can help participants strengthen their ability to communicate, collaborate and develop ideas with people from different backgrounds.
5. Leadership Development
Participants have opportunities to develop leadership skills through project planning, collaboration and community implementation.
6. Project Experience
Participants will develop and implement a project or intervention as part of the Day of Action.
7. Digital Communication Skills
The TikTok/Reel component provides experience communicating project experiences through digital storytelling.
8. Career Preparation
The combination of AI, collaboration, leadership, design, communication and project development is intended to help prepare participants for future careers.
Race and Ethnicity Eligibility
The provided program information does not specify a race, ethnicity or racial group requirement.
The eligibility requirements focus primarily on:
- Age
- Current residence in the United States or UAE
- Technology access
- Ability to participate fully
- Ability to receive program funds if selected
Therefore, the supplied information does not indicate that the program is restricted to a particular racial or ethnic group.
Countries and Geographic Eligibility
The program is specifically intended for young people who currently live in:
United States
or
United Arab Emirates
No other countries or continents are identified as eligible in the supplied information.
Applicants living elsewhere should not assume that they qualify based on nationality alone, because the stated requirement is based on current residence in the U.S. or UAE.
What Applicants Should Consider Before Applying
Before submitting an application, prospective participants should make sure they can satisfy all of the program’s requirements.
Applicants should confirm that they:
- Are 18–24 years old by September 24, 2026.
- Currently reside in the United States or United Arab Emirates.
- Have access to a computer.
- Have reliable internet access.
- Have a microphone and webcam.
- Can participate in the required live sessions.
- Can complete asynchronous activities.
- Can participate in small-group and partner work.
- Can participate in the Day of Action.
- Can attend the Culminating Virtual Celebration.
- Can meet the banking requirement if selected to receive program funds.
- Can commit to the complete program schedule.
Application Process
Applications open on:
September 8, 2026
Applications close on:
September 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time.
Finalists are scheduled to be selected on:
September 28, 2026.
Applicants should submit their applications through the designated application portal and ensure that all required information is completed before the deadline.
Final Takeaway
The Stevens Initiative AI Ignite Lab provides young people in the United States and United Arab Emirates with an opportunity to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, emerging technology, social impact and community development.
The program goes beyond traditional online learning by combining virtual training with collaborative project development and a real-world Day of Action.
Participants will develop skills in AI-supported problem-solving, human-centered design, cross-cultural collaboration, communication, leadership, digital storytelling and project development while working with peers from another country.
The program is particularly structured for young people who want to understand how emerging technology can be applied to real community challenges while developing skills that can support their future careers.
Eligible applicants should carefully review the full time commitment before applying, as participation in the required sessions, asynchronous activities, team coordination, Day of Action and final celebration is mandatory.
Application Deadline: September 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time
For more global grants, scholarships, fellowships, internships, jobs, conferences, competitions, and other career opportunities for young people, visit the Opportunities for Youth (OFY) website at www.opportunitiesforyouth.org.
