will.i.am to teach ASU class to close global AI skills gap

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As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly more prevalent, Arizona State University is partnering with tech innovator and creator will.i.am to design new educational models that better prepare today’s learners for the digital economy of tomorrow.

ASU President Michael Crow and will.i.am announced the collaboration on a new ASU AI course, “The Agentic Self,” to be designed and taught by will.i.am. He will be appointed a professor of practice in The GAME School at ASU, a school focused on increasing the digital fluency of the next generation of learners.

As an adviser to Fortune 100 companies, will.i.am brings more than a decade of hands-on development work in AI and distinct points of view as an advocate for good governance, including ethical and moral AI operating standards.

The 15-week class is planned for spring 2026.

“This professorship marks a new chapter in my life,” said will.i.am, a household name as the frontman of the Black Eyed Peas. “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.”

He found the perfect partner in ASU, named this week as the most innovative university for 11 straight years by U.S. News & World Report. Under Crow, the university continues to forge new paths in higher education, whether embracing AI or leveraging virtual reality-centered, cinematic storytelling to rethink biology and chemistry classes.

“We are always looking for ways to innovate how we teach to better prepare our students to meet the moment,” Crow said. “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.”

“The Agentic Self represents a solution to AI replacing human jobs.”

will.i.am, Tech Innovator, Creator + Professor of Practice

This will be the first of several collaborations between ASU and the tech entrepreneur and global musician. The partnership will build new education-focused capabilities on top of will.i.am’s FYI.AI creative productivity tool, creating EDU.FYI, a new platform using NVIDIA technology. The platform will be developed especially for educational use and student life activities that will equip ASU faculty and students with advanced capabilities to leverage AI, create AI agents and collaborate with peers as they start their learning journey.

“The future of education will be shaped by how students learn about AI and use it to amplify their creativity, values and ambitions,” said Richard Kerris, vice president of media and entertainment at NVIDIA. “Built on the NVIDIA AI stack, this collaboration with ASU, FYI.AI and will.i.am creates a foundation for the next generation of leaders to develop the skills to create and work with AI agents in ways that are empathetic, ethical and empowering.”

The Agentic Self

Want to enroll in will.i.am‘s course? You can sign up via the ASU Class Search using HDA 294/494 Special Topics. Non-degree students are also invited to sign up after applying.
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A version of this story originally appeared in ASU News.
Photo by Samantha Chow.
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