China's first youth AI academy to mark its second anniversary: How Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the China Welfare Institute Children's Palace jointly cultivate AI talent

The country's first youth artificial intelligence academy, jointly established by the China Welfare Institute Children's Palace and the School of Artificial Intelligence at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, will mark its second anniversary this October. At its unveiling in October 2024, it admitted its first cohort of 50 students; in September 2026 it will launch its third round of admissions, with more than 400 applicants. The academy selects first-year high school students from across the city, with each cohort studying for two years under a "2+2+X" model, attending classes on Saturdays alternately at the School of Artificial Intelligence at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the China Welfare Institute Children's Palace. The curriculum covers advanced mathematics, machine learning, deep learning, analysis of large language model architectures, and agent development. Next, the academy plans to extend AI popularization and accessibility to lower age groups, including middle and primary school students.