2026 Summer AI / Creative / Data Internship
McKinney
New York, Durham, Los Angeles
At McKinney, we believe in iconic brands and ideas that move people. The future of creativity lives at the intersection of human insight, emerging technology, and intelligent data. We’re looking for curious builders, creative technologists, data thinkers, and AI explorers to join us for Summer 2026.
If you’re excited about how AI can unlock new forms of storytelling, how data can sharpen creative instincts, and how technology can enhance — not replace — human imagination, we want to meet you.
This isn’t a coffee-run internship. You’ll experiment, prototype, analyze, and help shape real work for real clients.
What You’ll Do
Partner with creative, strategy, media, and tech teams to explore AI-powered creative solutions
Support concept development that integrates generative AI, automation, and emerging tools
Analyze data to uncover insights that inform creative ideas and brand strategy
Experiment with AI platforms (text, image, video, audio, predictive tools) to prototype campaign ideas
Assist in building workflows that connect data inputs to creative outputs
Explore applications of AI across social, brand, comms, and influencer ecosystems
Evaluate performance metrics to optimize creative effectiveness
Contribute to internal thought leadership around AI innovation and responsible use
Help craft decks and presentations that clearly explain complex ideas
Bring curiosity, experimentation, and ethical thinking to every assignment
Who You Are
A rising junior, senior, recent grad, or graduate student pursuing computer science, data science, marketing, creative technology, design, engineering, analytics, or a related field
Fascinated by AI tools and emerging technology
Comfortable working with data — whether quantitative, behavioral, or cultural
Creative-minded — you see possibilities, not just outputs
Interested in how brands can use AI across social content, brand storytelling, comms systems, and influencer strategies
Curious about prompt engineering, automation, machine learning applications, or data visualization
Thoughtful about ethics, bias, and responsible AI implementation
Collaborative and energized by cross-functional teams
What You’ll Gain
Hands-on experience applying AI and data to real brand challenges
Exposure to creative development powered by emerging technology
Mentorship from strategists, creatives, technologists, and analysts
A portfolio of experimental and applied AI-driven projects
A deeper understanding of how data informs creative and business decisions
Experience navigating the evolving relationship between human creativity and machine intelligence
A network of teammates who will champion your growth
Our Point of View
We believe technology should amplify human creativity — not replace it. We are committed to responsible innovation and building systems that reflect the world we’re speaking to. We strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to apply. Different perspectives make smarter systems — and better ideas.
Salary
We offer a competitive salary of $18/hour for up to 40 hours/week.
Right to Work in the US
You must be authorized to work in the US for any employer. At this time, we are not providing or sponsoring assistance with obtaining work authorization.
We are in the office Tuesday – Thursday. We look forward to meeting you!
Ready to help shape the future of creativity?
Submit your video, resume, and a brief note telling us:
- What excites you most about AI right now?
- And how do you think AI and data can make creative work stronger?
Dates:
The Summer 2026 program runs from June 3 – August 12.
Let’s build what’s next — responsibly, creatively, and intelligently.