AI Makers Lab: Build GPTs, Animate Worlds, and Program AI Robots
About the Course
Welcome to the AI Makers Lab — a bold, future-ready program that gives participants the tools and mindset to not just understand Artificial Intelligence, but to create with it. This immersive 5-day course blends AI development, robotics, creative media generation and real-world ethics into one exciting, hands-on learning lab.
Participants will learn how to build their own GPT-style chatbot, program an AI-controlled robot and generate media content using advanced tools like Google VEO (DeepMind), RunwayML, and D-ID AI Avatars. The course introduces foundational AI principles, machine learning logic, and real-time data interaction—all wrapped in gamified challenges, teamwork labs, and creative storytelling missions.
Whether aspiring to become a roboticist, coder, game designer, or digital creator, students leave the program empowered with AI fluency, a personal project portfolio, and the inspiration to build the future.
Outcomes
- Build and deploy their own chatbots and voice AI agents.
- Use Google VEO, RunwayML, and image generators to create AI-enhanced videos, visuals, and avatars.
- Program basic behaviors and responses into AI-enabled robots using block-based or Python-style coding.
- Understand how machine learning works through training models and real-world data simulations.
- Explore ethical challenges in AI: misinformation, deepfakes, data bias and digital safety.
- Complete a capstone AI Project: chatbot, AI animation, or robot logic mission.
Features
- 3-Day Onsite Lab Experience
- Structured around immersive AI Studio Sessions and Build Labs
- Includes Final Demo Day with Family Showcase
- Gamified Missions, Design Sprints, and Collaborative AI Challenges
- Real Tools (RunwayML, Google Teachable Machine, DeepMind VEO, OpenRobot Lab kits)
- No prior programming experience required — scaffolding from visual tools to advanced concepts
- AI Junior Innovator Certificate by Emirates Science & Research Foundation
- Optional upload of AI creations to ESRF Youth Innovation Gallery
- Access to Alumni Mentorship Group for future AI development
- Invitation to AI Youth Hackathon
- Participation in ESRF’s AI Challenge for Schools
- Access to ESRF innovation mentors and online platform for continued projects
Target audiences
- Students with interest in science, robotics, technology, coding, design, or creative media.
- Participants in STEM programs, gifted and talented schools, innovation clubs, or future digital leaders initiatives.
- No coding background required, but ideal for advanced middle/high school learners ready to challenge themselves.
Curriculum
Where we see AI (from TikTok to Tesla).
Deploy chatbot on a mini website or app interface.
Tools: Google VEO, D-ID, RunwayML, Canva AI.
Assign behaviors: follow a path, respond to voice, or detect objects.
Image or sound classification with real-time output.
How youth can lead in building ethical tech.
Pitch your work in a Demo Day to parents, peers, and mentors.
