When “generative AI” — a rapidly evolving field — is brought up, students may feel like it’s a concept reserved for programmers or tech insiders. But at Los Altos High School, the Generative AI Club aims to change that perception first through bringing industry experts into the classroom.
The Generative AI (Gen AI) Club recently hosted two guest speakers from Apple and NVIDIA to give students a deeper understanding of the field. The club was founded this year by junior Avni Rajagopal, and aims to demystify generative AI and its applications to anyone — no coding experience required.
“A lot of people understand how important generative AI is going to be in the near future, but many choose not to learn about it on their own,” Avni said. “I wanted to create a way for people without much experience in AI or programming to understand generative AI specifically because it’s one of the hottest areas of impact.”
On Monday, November 4, Apple Product Executive Andy Narayanan kicked off the club’s guest speaker series by sharing his experiences at the forefront of generative AI innovation, including Apple Intelligence, as well as new features in Siri and iOS. Narayanan provided insight into the practical applications of generative AI in industries ranging from his workspace to other companies he’s knowledgeable about.
“He explained generative AI in a way that was accessible to everyone,” Avni said. “Afterwards, people told me that the talk was interesting, so I thought it went really successfully.”
A week later, on November 18, Ajay Tirumala from NVIDIA gave a presentation highlighting the role of hardware in enabling AI advancements. As NVIDIA’s GPUs (electronic circuits that perform mathematical calculations at high speeds) power many generative AI systems, Tirumala discussed how computing resources are a critical component of AI development and shared his perspective on the intersection of hardware and software innovation.
“What really stood out to me was the varied ways he conveyed student involvement,” junior Racheal Wang said. “I learned a lot about the specifics of applications of generative AI outside of features involving ‘chatting,’”
Beyond guest speakers, the club offers a space for hands-on learning. Meetings typically start with an introduction to a new generative AI tool, followed by time for members to experiment with these features.
“We usually have these fun little competitions to see who can create the coolest thing,” Secretary junior Serra Kozat said. “We just hope to create a safe space for people of all levels to learn about how generative AI shapes both students’ lives and workplace beyond school.”
In the future, Gen AI hopes to incorporate more project-based learning and collaborations with other clubs on campus, all while keeping the club accessible to a wide range of students.
“My goal is for all members to feel less intimidated by generative AI, which is why there’s not a lot of hard-core programming,” Avni said. “Even for those who think it’s uninteresting, I hope we can show them how much it’s going to impact everyone’s lives.”
