The Innovation Story

What truly elevated the #AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators, making it one of the most meaningful learning experiences, was the presence of exceptional minds who welcomed our students into spaces rarely accessible at such a young age & offered not just insight but belonging. Prof. Ramesh Raskar, MIT Media Lab, played a pivotal role in building this program. His bold ideas, commitment to learning, & personal mentorship inspired students to see AI not just as a tool but as a force for purpose-driven innovation. Prof. Paul Liang, MIT Media Lab, helped students explore multisensory AI & the frontier of human-machine interaction. Prof. Kate Saenko, Boston University, guided them through the challenges of interpretability and robustness in computer vision. Ce Liu, Meta GenAI IEEE Fellow, shared insights into generative AI, LLaMA 4, and aligning technology with markets. Brendan McSheffrey, Founder, The Kendall Project, empowered students to think like entrepreneurs by introducing product frameworks, real-world experimentation, & problem-solving strategies. Dr. Alex G. Lee, Ph.D. Esq. CLP, IP Expert, helped students understand how to protect what they build and think like inventors Dr. Akash P., AI medical researcher, shared his work on breast cancer diagnostics and emphasized ethical data practices. Dr. Deeptarup Biswas, Harvard Medical School, illuminated how AI is transforming medical diagnostics & healthcare delivery. Rebecca Xiong, PhD, MD at Harvard i-Labs, shared a rare and personal view of what it takes to build from the ground up with clarity, resilience, & purpose. John Werner, MD at Link Ventures, led students through iconic spaces in the world of innovation, sharing the value of social capital, & the stories that have shaped changemakers for decades. Gabriela Torres Vives, Co-founder, SundAI, with the SundAI team, helped students build and present with clarity, showing them how to communicate their ideas with confidence as real-world creators. Ripudaman Singh Arora, Matthew Millendorf, & Samson Timoner brought the complexities of real-world computer vision to life by showing students how innovation is tested and refined in high-stakes environments. Throughout these 12 days, our students didn’t just learn how to build—they learned how to think. 29 brilliant fellows created projects across 15 domains: agriculture, assistive tech, education, energy, environment, finance, healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, robotics, retail and commerce, space, sports, and transportation. They walked away with frameworks, mindsets, and the belief that they, too, can sit at the table, ask big questions, and create lasting impact. We are deeply grateful to each of you for taking the time to pour into the next generation. Your presence didn’t just inform, it transformed. You’ve helped shape students who will not only use AI but also guide it toward good. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey. 🚀 #AIFellowship #MIT

The AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators – Day 12 (Part 2): MIT Treasure Hunt with John Werner 🚀 😇 After a successful Innovation Fest, our fellows enjoyed a well-deserved break with a celebratory lunch and a spontaneous, story-filled tour of MIT led by John Werner, Managing Director, Link Ventures. We explored historic labs, discovered the legacy behind MIT’s most iconic innovations, and had the rare opportunity to meet some of the brilliant minds behind them, including the inventors of OLED. From unexpected lessons in architecture to fascinating conversations with researchers, the walk reminded us that innovation lives everywhere, across disciplines, in hallways, and in people. This journey began as a bold dream to give our students an experience unlike anything else in the world. A vision to open their eyes to what the world has in store, and more importantly, what they are capable of contributing to it. The day concluded with a reflective debrief, evening fun, and a final shared dinner. With hearts full and bags packed, our fellows wrapped up an experience they’ll never forget, and one that’s only just the beginning. Thank you for following our 12-day journey of some dreams coming true and new dreams taking root. 😇 A deeper dive into the program to follow soon, so do ask us more about it in the comments. #AIFellowship #AIProgram #MITTour #MIT #LearningAI

The AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators – Last Day (Part 1): Innovation Fest 🚀 💡 💫 The final day kicked off with an unforgettable celebration of student innovation at the Innovation Fest. Our 29 fellows presented 29 brilliant, market-ready AI projects spanning 15 diverse domains—from healthcare to sustainability—impressing a panel of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. In a refreshing departure from tradition, the judging panel chose not to rank the projects, honoring the high quality and unique strengths of each. It reflected the MIT ethos that innovation isn’t about competition, but contribution. The room was filled with energy, curiosity, and bold thinking. Fellows practiced real-world pitching, shared visionary ideas, and connected with potential mentors in a setting that mirrored the pulse of a startup showcase. The Innovation Fest was more than a finale; it was a launchpad. We are deeply grateful to our students for showing up every day with curiosity, courage, and excellence. Their commitment raised the bar for The Innovation Story and set an inspiring example for the global classroom. A heartfelt thank you to every professor, speaker, and mentor who shared their time and knowledge. Your guidance empowered these young minds and gave them the confidence and skillset to own their futures. #artificialintelligence #AIFellowship #technology #InnovationFest #Innovation #MIT #AIFellows

The AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators - Day 9 🚀 Today was all about focused execution and preparation as our fellows moved closer to Innovation Fest. The day began with continued project work - refining posters, finalizing research papers, and ensuring each element of their presentation reflected thoughtful development. Brendan McSheffrey, Founder - The Kendall Project, conducted a final session on entrepreneurship, diving into the challenges founders face and how to think through implementation. He also held one-on-one feedback discussions, helping each student sharpen their ideas and pitches with practical, real-world insight. A guided campus tour and an insightful conversation with an MIT admissions officer gave fellows a deeper understanding of academic pathways and opportunities in higher education. The evening brought time to reflect and recharge, with dinner and a fun track where students relaxed over football or conversations at a café. Along the way, students honed their skills in pitch refinement, academic navigation, documentation, and personalized mentorship - key tools for their Innovation Fest debut tomorrow! Stay tuned 😄 #AIFellowship #LearnAI #AICourse #InnovationFest #Innovation

The AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators - Day 8 🚀 An intensive day of pitching, mentorship, and sharpening ideas as the fellowship entered its final stretch. The day began with mid-camp pitches, where each fellow had two minutes to present and two minutes for Q&A - an experience that pushed them to communicate their ideas clearly and confidently in front of accomplished judges. Alex G. Lee, Ph.D. Esq. CLP, an intellectual property expert, led sessions following the pitches to help students understand how to protect their AI innovations. His mentorship demystified IP strategy and gave students a new lens through which to view their projects. Prof. Ramesh Raskar, MIT Media Lab, delivered an engaging session on advanced AI applications and spent time mentoring students one-on-one, offering nuanced feedback to help them refine and elevate their work. The evening debrief announced top performers and offered insights into improvement areas. Through the day, students strengthened their pitching abilities, learned how to approach IP strategically, and gained experience in applying expert feedback to their evolving AI ideas. #AIFellowship #AILearning #ArtificialIntelligence #EthicalAI #Pitch

The AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators – Day 7 🚀 An unforgettable day with the SundAI Hackers - AI engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs from MIT and Harvard who build and launch AI prototypes every Sunday! The day kicked off with an inspiring session where Sundai speakers shared thought-provoking insights such as, “To be an expert AI user, you need human expertise,” and “Self-awareness and self-regulation are key when using AI.” Our fellows then immersed themselves in developing their own AI projects, refining ideas, recording pitches, and receiving valuable feedback from industry experts. The atmosphere was electric as they learned from each other’s presentations and honed their technical and communication skills. Working in teams, students pushed creative boundaries to bring innovative prototypes to life. The day wrapped with a birthday celebration, shared dinner at Chipotle, and reflections in the dorms—fostering a deeper sense of community. Along the way, fellows gained key skills in rapid prototyping, public speaking, collaboration, and critical thinking, essential tools for future AI leaders. #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #LearnAI #SundAI #MIT #TheInnovationStory

The AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators - Day 6 😄 A one-of-a-kind adventure through the heart of MIT’s innovation ecosystem! Led by the ever-energizing John Werner, our fellows took part in a campus-wide history and architecture treasure hunt—uncovering the stories behind some of MIT’s most iconic spaces. From the legendary CSAIL labs to the striking Frank Gehry, designed Stata Center, students explored where decades of groundbreaking research have come to life. Built on the historic site of Building 20, the Stata Center continues to house MIT’s LIDS and the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, fostering creativity across disciplines. Along the way, they met AI scientists, peeked into active labs, and experienced how space, history, and community come together to inspire innovation. A day of curiosity, discovery, and joy—reminding our fellows that science lives not just in code, but in culture, place, and people. #AiFellowship #LearnAI #MIT #Technology #ArtificialIntelligence

The AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators – Day 5 🩺 A powerful session with Akash P., PhD graduate from Carnegie Mellon University and a computational pathologist, gave fellows an in-depth look at how AI is transforming cancer diagnostics. Currently working on breast cancer detection and developing AI tools to assist pathologists, he showed how rigorous, ground-up research drives real-world medical innovation. He introduced multiclass classification techniques, emphasized ethical data practices using de-identified datasets, and explained how strong research foundations and data quality shape effective healthcare AI. At The Innovation Story, healthcare has long been a focus area for student innovation projects, making this session especially relevant. The session provided invaluable insights into how foundational research skills can be applied to real-world challenges and improve patient outcomes. #AIinHealthcare #HealthTech #AIFellowship #Innovation

The AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators - Day 5 🚀 A focused session with Brendan McSheffrey, Founder of The Kendall Project, introduced our fellows to structured approaches for building with AI. Revisiting the Kendall Framework, he addressed key topics like AI hallucination and product framework development, helping students think more critically about how AI tools are designed and deployed. The session also included guidance on how to apply innovation frameworks in real-world contexts, giving students a practical lens through which to explore their own ideas. For young learners, sessions like these offer an early understanding of how structure and clarity play a role in shaping impactful tech solutions. #artificialintelligence #AIFellowship #entrepreneurship #technology

The AI Fellowship for Young Global Innovators - Day 5 🚀 An inspiring and deeply personal session with Rebecca Xiong, PhD, a serial entrepreneur and Managing Director at Harvard Innovation Labs. She shared her journey from a challenging background to studying at MIT and building successful ventures, offering students an honest look into the mindset it takes to lead and persevere. Rebecca answered thoughtful questions from our fellows, encouraged openness, and fostered an atmosphere of reflection and resilience. Her story reminded us that entrepreneurship isn’t just about ideas—it’s about adaptability, clarity, and staying grounded through change. Learning directly from a founder offered our students a different kind of insight, one rooted in lived experience. It pushed them to think beyond technical skills and focus on building the confidence, curiosity, and courage needed to create something meaningful. #artificialintelligence #AIFellowship #entrepreneurship #technology