For years,
internships have been the bridge between education and employment. Today, that bridge is collapsing.
Alen Malkoč, CEO of
FlyRank AI, believed waiting for the market to fix itself wasn’t an option.
So, his company built an alternative.
When FlyRank launched its free, self-paced global AI internship program in July, demand exploded. The company received 37,866 applications in just five days from more than 130 countries and territories. The applicant pool stretched from Ivy League students at Yale and Princeton to aspiring professionals in Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, Haiti, Myanmar, and many other countries where AI career opportunities remain scarce.
The internship model looks different
Unlike traditional internships that accept only a handful of applicants, FlyRank accepted everyone.
Participants complete hands-on projects instead of simulated coursework. They earn AI certifications, receive recommendation letters upon completion, and build verified work experience they can add to LinkedIn and their resumes.
Within the program’s first five days, nearly 20,000 participants had already begun contributing work. Meanwhile, more than 3,100 real project submissions had been completed, according to FlyRank’s published program data.
“We wanted to rebuild the first rung of the career ladder,” Malkoč explained.
AI is changing who gets an opportunity
The internship arrives as AI continues reshaping the early-career job market.
Research from
LinkedIn has shown that employers increasingly value demonstrated skills over traditional credentials, while many organizations have reduced hiring for junior roles as AI automates routine work once assigned to entry-level employees.
Malkoč said his team has watched those opportunities disappear firsthand.
“There are far fewer internships available than there were just 18 months ago,” he explained. “If we don’t create new ways for people to gain experience, many talented people will never get the opportunity to start.”
Experience matters more than coursework
Rather than focusing on lectures, FlyRank structured its internship around practical contribution.
Participants choose among six AI tracks, including machine learning, backend AI engineering, front-end AI engineering,
AI marketing, and UI/UX design. They contribute to ongoing projects while learning alongside thousands of peers from around the world.
The approach reflects a broader shift occurring across industries.
Employers increasingly want evidence that candidates can solve real problems, not simply complete coursework or collect certifications.
For many participants, this internship becomes their first professional experience.
That may ultimately matter more than the certificate itself.
As AI continues transforming work, companies face a choice. They can allow the traditional entry point into the workforce to disappear, or they can build new ones.
FlyRank is betting the future belongs to organizations willing to create opportunities at a global scale.
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