Will.i.am will teach an AI course at ASU called ‘The Agentic Self’
The rapper will.i.am, best known for his membership in the Black Eyed Peas, will lead an artificial intelligence course next spring at Arizona State University’s Los Angeles campus.
The university announced the partnership on Wednesday, describing it as the first of several collaborations with the artist and entrepreneur, who founded a company in 2013 called i.am+, which has sold products like iPhone accessories, smartwatches and headphones. In 2016, the company acquired an Israeli AI firm and has continued to dabble in AI-related technologies since.
Will.i.am, born William Adams, also cofounded and serves as chief executive of FYI.Ai, an AI-powered productivity tool aimed at creative professionals like song writers and marketers.
According to the announcement, Adams will be appointed as a professor of practice in the university’s The GAME School, and teach a course called “The Agentic Self.” In the press release, Adams said the course “represents a solution to AI replacing human jobs.” He also noted that his professorship marks “a new chapter” in his life.
“We are always looking for ways to innovate how we teach to better prepare our students to meet the moment,” ASU President Michael Crow said in the release. “Our graduates must be ready for the powerful shift in jobs toward AI. 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.”
