Computer Science / AI Internship
About Verité: Verité is a Northampton-based non-profit and award-winning pioneer in the social auditing, training, research, and consulting field with a vision to ensure that people worldwide work under safe, fair, and legal conditions. The organization has over 25 years of experience working with Fortune 500 corporations and their local suppliers through our global network of NGO partners. Verité works in over 70 countries to empower companies, factories, NGOs, governments, and workers to create sustainable workplace practices in the factories and communities where our consumer goods are made and the raw materials that go into them are sourced. For more information, please visit https://www.verite.org.
Internship: To scale and increase our impact on some of the world’s most complex labor and human rights challenges, we are exploring the potential of generative Artificial Intelligence for our work – including use of an internal AI LLM/Chatbot to support research and analysis – while ensuring we adhere to the highest standards of data security and ethical AI practices.
The CS/AI intern will play a key role in development of an internal chatbot, assisting with system setup, training the model using ethical data collection methods, and applying research on responsible AI use. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in development of an AI chatbot while applying learnings on data privacy, ethical considerations, and the real-world application of machine learning in a mission-driven organization.
Start date: Negotiable; June
End date: Negotiable; end of August
Hours: Interns are expected to work a minimum of 200 hours over the course of the summer. Exact start and end dates and weekly hours are otherwise negotiable.
Location: All internships are currently remote. If interns are local to Western Massachusetts, working in the office is an option that can be discussed.
Benefits: Verité offers interns a stipend in the amount of $1,500 for the duration of the session. If your school also provides either funding or academic credits for intern work, Verité is happy to assist with the required paperwork. It is the responsibility of the student to check with their institution to be sure they meet any requirements prior to accepting a position.
We plan various events for interns to interact with senior and other staff and provide opportunities for mentoring and networking. We also provide references upon request after successful completion of the internship.
Intern activities may include:
- Assisting in the development and training of a private, internal LLM (privateGPT) to support organizational needs
- Propose use cases and opportunities for adoption of AI (including data collection methods).
- Researching best practices in AI ethics, privacy, and data management while preserving confidentiality.
- Reviewing and updating internal guidance on responsible AI use, including comparisons with emerging regulations
- Collaborating with team members to test and refine chatbot functionality
Skills, abilities, and competencies:
- Computer Science or related major (current or recent graduate).
- Knowledge of AI frameworks and learning models
- Sufficient knowledge in Python/C/Rust/Julia/Postgres/APIs and other related tools required to develop an AI chatbot that’s connected to multiple; unstructured sources of data
- Python programming knowledge preferred
- Eye for detail, and knack for preserving privacy/confidentiality of data
- Basic knowledge in data analytics and visualization
- Github ID/prior work
- Proactive in seeking guidance to understand user needs
- Ability to explain the development approach to non-technical users
- Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assigned tasks, and work independently and proactively, all with an attention to detail
- Ability to take initiative and work independently
Verité is committed to a diverse work force and is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expressions, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
How to Apply:
Please include the following attachments with your application: cover letter and resume.
Please apply via this link.
PLEASE NOTE - applications will be reviewed in the order they are received. Any questions can be addressed to the Internship Coordinator at verite@verite.org.