Surviving the Gauntlet: Bringing AlphaX Projects to Life

It started with a deadline for one of our interns.

She was interested in tackling several projects during her internship. The first was an innovative writing app for middle schoolers that drove engagement through story telling and gamification utilizing a massive open world concept.

We believe in utilizing no code tools for our students to empower them to do most of the work themselves. Our ‘text to code’ apps provide the underlying logic that drives how projects are coded providing students with insights into app development and the coding process itself by diving into file structures, libraries, and themes.

Our intern had written an amazing overview, but knew she would need help to properly develop and bring her project to life.

Enter the Gauntlet.

The Gauntlet is a 3 month intensive internship designed to transform 100 of the most brilliant software engineers into cutting edge AI developers. The Gauntlet engineers work 100-120 hours per week and are guaranteed a $200K a year salary in Austin if and when they successfully complete the course.

You can learn more about the Gauntlet AI program here.

UATX Interns and Alpha High School students are not guaranteed resources.

They have to pitch the team and convince them that their ideas are worthy of the Gauntlet engineers’ time. The Gauntlet team is looking for opportunities to grow and push the boundaries of their own knowledge while developing innovative projects with the opportunity for real world impact. Imagine ‘Shark Tank’, but from a technical point of view.

Students and UATX interns are given 4 minutes.

Upon completion the engineers who are interested provide their contact information and the students and interns transform from researchers into program managers. This phase is where both the high school students and the Interns must tap into their life skills to properly manage the development of their projects into real world solutions.

Working with their Gauntlet team students and interns develop project plans to bring their ideas to life. The project plans provide real world opportunities to learn how to manage in real time. If deadlines aren’t met then projects aren’t developed.

Students and interns do this in addition to their school work.

Alpha School and the AlphaX program are not an ‘either/or’ program, but rather an ‘and +’ opportunity. This is where most EdTech companies fail. They proselytize AI driven solutions, but ignore the vehicle within which those tools must operate to be successful. Students require motivation and mentorship to get through challenges.

Our program is not easy, nor is it meant to be.

We believe in high standards, but also high support. We expect students and interns to develop their problem solving skills, but the Guides in our program are readily available to help them learn how to ask the right questions and access the right resources.

The future of education is empowering students AND teachers to tap into their limitless potential.