Arizona State University (ASU) has announced a partnership with musician and tech entrepreneur will.i.am to develop new educational approaches for preparing students for the digital economy. The announcement was made on Tuesday in New York City by will.i.am and ASU President Michael Crow.
Will.i.am, known as the frontman of the Black Eyed Peas and an adviser to Fortune 100 companies, will design and teach a new AI course at ASU titled “The Agentic Self.” He will also be appointed as a professor of practice at The GAME School, which aims to increase digital fluency among students. The 15-week class is scheduled for spring 2026.
“This professorship marks a new chapter in my life,” said will.i.am. “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.”
ASU President Michael Crow commented on the partnership: “We are always looking for ways to innovate how we teach to better prepare our students to meet the moment. 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.”
This collaboration is one of several planned between ASU and will.i.am. It includes building new education-focused capabilities on top of FYI.AI—will.i.am’s creative productivity tool—to create EDU.FYI, a platform developed using NVIDIA technology. Richard Kerris, vice president of media and entertainment at NVIDIA, said: “The future of education will be shaped by how students learn about AI and use it to amplify their creativity, values and ambitions. 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.”
Students taking “The Agentic Self” course will gain foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence applicable across disciplines. They will also collaborate with will.i.am on developing an AI universal learning companion that can support them throughout their academic and professional careers.
The course is expected to take place at will.i.am’s Hollywood studio, with participation both in-person and online from various ASU locations.
In addition to this announcement, ASU joined discussions at the United Nations General Assembly as part of an “AI for Good” event organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Will.i.am serves as goodwill ambassador for ITU. Chris Howard, ASU Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, participated alongside him.
Frederic Werner from ITU welcomed ASU into its AI Skills Coalition: “We are proud to welcome Arizona State University as the first and only university member to join the AI Skills Coalition at the institutional level,” Werner said. “ASU has consistently been recognized as one of the leading universities in the United States, pioneering new models for online and experiential learning.”
“With more than 200,000 learners served annually, ASU has scaled cutting-edge training in artificial intelligence, engineering and digital skills through innovative platforms and collaborations,” Werner added. “Their leadership in technology and AI education aligns seamlessly with the mission of the AI Skills Coalition, and reflects the vision of our goodwill ambassador, will.i.am, to empower young people with the skills of the future. Together, we are committed to democratizing AI learning worldwide and ensuring no community is left behind.”
Separately, ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business announced that its Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Business (MS-AIB), launched in 2024 as America’s first business school graduate degree focused on artificial intelligence applications in business settings, will expand delivery options starting fall 2026 at its California Center Broadway location in Los Angeles.
“Expanding the MS-AIB program to Los Angeles builds on ASU’s commitment to innovation and access while connecting students directly with industries shaping the future of AI in business,” said Ohad Kadan, Charles J. Robel Dean at W.P. Carey School.
Arizona State University continues its focus on innovation through such partnerships; according to U.S News & World Report, it has been ranked number one for innovation multiple years running.
Additionally,the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department works alongside an Arizona State University startup called Argos Vision on smart traffic camera technology designed for safety improvements via data analysis—a further example of how university-led initiatives intersect public benefit projects.
