The AI Internship

The AI Internship · AI Engineering Bootcamp

You're in.

Welcome to the cohort. Do the three setup steps below before Session 1 so the first live session is a build, not an install clinic.

Over the next five live sessions you'll build your own agentic project layer by layer: reliable /ask, RAG, agents, TRACE evals, and memory. Then you deploy and demo it.

This cohort is coding-agent-first. You install Cursor or Claude Code, direct it, then read and verify what it produces. That is how we build all course.

Open the full pre-courseWhat is AI engineering?

Must do before Session 1

Three things. That's it.

  1. 01 · CODING AGENT

    Install Cursor or Claude Code

    Pick one. Sign in. Open a project folder. Confirm the agent can see your files. This is the highest-leverage setup step.

    Install guide →

  2. 02 · GITHUB

    Create a GitHub account

    Session 1 deploys from a GitHub repo fork. Use an email you check regularly. New to Git? Do the free GitHub Learn intro (~30 min).

    Environment setup →github.com →

  3. 03 · OPENAI KEY

    Create an OpenAI API key

    Save it locally as OPENAI_API_KEY=... in a .env file. Add a few dollars of billing credit. Never paste the key into Maven, WhatsApp, or screenshots.

    Environment setup →OpenAI keys →

Good to have

Fine if not done yet. We help in office hours.

  • Python 3.11+ and a virtual environment
  • FastAPI /health running locally
  • Capstone one-liner (what you're building)
  • Pre-session check-in posted in Maven or WhatsApp
  • Optional POST /ask smoke test (we build this live in Session 1)
Full Session 1 checklist →Seed your capstone →

Check-in template

Paste into Maven or WhatsApp before Session 1

Pre-session check-in - [Your name]

• Coding agent: Cursor / Claude Code
• Python version: [python3 --version]
• OpenAI: key created (key NOT shared)
• Capstone seed: [one sentence]
• Blocker (if any): [error or "none"]

Full check-in lesson →

On Maven

  • Add events to calendar · top right on Home
  • #announcements · cohort updates
  • #intros · say hello
  • #questions · ask for help
  • #submissions · check-ins and weekly assignments

Optional warm-up

Think Like an AI Engineer

Free 10-part series in plain English. Great before or alongside Week 1.

Watch the series

Stuck? Paste the full error into your coding agent first. Still blocked? Post in #questions with what you tried.

Can't wait to see what you build.

Dr. Aki and Manu
The AI Internship

P.S. Never paste API keys into Maven, WhatsApp, or screenshots. Keep secrets in .env only. Full syllabus: theaiinternship.com/ai-eng-syllabus