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Despite concerns over AI energy usage, Arizona State University announced a new course with an unexpected high-profile teacher. On September 24 at the ‘AI for Good’ event with the United Nations in New York, President Michael Crow welcomed rapper Will.i.am to the university.
When you think of Will.i.am, founding member of the Black Eyed Peas, you’re probably not thinking of enrolling in an AI class taught by him. Let alone learning how to build an artificially intelligent personalized agent.
“The Agentic Self” is a general-elective ASU course which will be taught in Will.i.am’s Hollywood studio. Some students will attend in-person, and others likely will join from the university’s classrooms in Los Angeles, Arizona or online.
The announcement for the collaboration came a day after the Sun Devils were named the most innovative university for 11 straight years by the U.S. News & World Report. President Michel Crow started the New York City press conference touting the schools’ dedication to developing courses that prepare students for the powerful shift in jobs toward AI.
“We are always looking for ways to innovate how we teach to better prepare our students to meet the moment,” ASU President Michael M. Crow said at the conference. “This pioneering partnership with will.i.am is an unbelievable opportunity for our students to learn from his extraordinary experience as a highly creative and unique tech innovator.”
The multitalented performer is adding another title to his resume as the new professor of practice, bringing his digital fluency to the next generation of learners. The 15-week class begins next spring. This joint venture will be the first of several collaborations between the university and the artist.
Will.i.am is bringing more than a decade of hands-on development work in AI to the GAME School. His experiences make him a perfect partner to explore ethical, educational use of AI technology. The course will leverage the new professor’s existing AI technologies, FYI AI (Focus Your Ideas), an AI-powered communication and collaboration platform.
This course will shift the capabilities of Will.i.am’s FYI.AI creative productivity tool towards a new education model, EDU.FYI. Developed especially for educational use and student life activities, NVIDIA technology “equips ASU faculty and students with advanced capabilities to leverage AI, create agents and collaborate with peers as they start their forever learning journey,” according to a press release.
The musician and tech innovator has a passion for accessible education, founding his i.am Angel Foundation in 2009. The program is designed to support students to get involved in and have access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM, programs.
“This professorship marks a new chapter in my life,” Will.i.am says. “From creating global unifying music to establishing my i.am Angel Foundation, which empowers 15,000 Los Angeles area high school students with STEM skills and sends thousands to college, I find the answer to my question, ‘where’s the love?’ in this course. The Agentic Self represents a solution to AI replacing human jobs.”
