Will.i.am, the Black Eyed Peas co-founder turned entrepreneur and educator, is reshaping how young people prepare for an AI-transformed workplace by teaching them to work alongside artificial intelligence rather than fear it. Through his weekly three-hour class at Arizona State University titled "The Agentic Self," the musician is equipping roughly 80 students with skills to build autonomous AI agents, software systems that can perform tasks without human prompts. His approach reflects a broader shift in how technologists and creatives are positioning themselves in an era where AI capabilities are expanding rapidly.

Why Is Will.i.am Focused on Teaching AI to College Students?

Will.i.am's pivot toward education stems from his conviction that humans cannot compete with AI through traditional skills alone. Instead, he argues that hyper-creativity and the ability to conceptualize novel ideas will become the defining competitive advantage. "It's the greatest time to dream and materialize concepts that haven't been materialized," he explained in an interview with NPR. Students in his class are learning to think of themselves not just as creative individuals, but as companies capable of leveraging AI tools to scale their impact.

The class draws students from diverse backgrounds, many without technical experience. Undergraduate Ren Flint noted that "not everybody that's coming inside this class has a tech background," but "he's been able to break AI down and make it accessible to everyone." Graduate student Luke Azariah added that will.i.am is "future-proofing a lot of us" by preparing them for a labor market being reshaped by technology.

How Is Will.i.am Balancing Ethics With Corporate AI Investments?

While will.i.am teaches students about AI's potential, he also dedicates significant class time to ethics and accountability. Videos shown during lectures warn of risks when "corporate agents are used" without proper guardrails. Yet simultaneously, will.i.am has invested in major AI companies and platforms, including Anthropic, OpenAI, and the AI music creation platform Udio, while partnering with tech giants like Apple, Intel, and Nvidia.

This dual approach reflects what tech journalist Brian Merchant described as a blurry line between "passion for technology" and "expanding his market portfolio." However, Merchant acknowledged that this doesn't necessarily undermine will.i.am's genuine interest in making AI work responsibly. The musician's investments in licensed AI music platforms like Udio align with a broader industry trend toward responsible AI development, particularly as music distribution platforms tighten their policies on unlicensed AI content.

What Concrete Projects Is Will.i.am Developing?

Beyond teaching, will.i.am is translating his vision into tangible products. He developed "MÖFO," or "Modular Omni Function Operator," an AI agent-powered Teddy bear created in partnership with Qualcomm and unveiled at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show. The device is designed to improve productivity and learning while using a cute exterior to humanize AI technology. He's also developing "Trinity," a three-wheeled electric vehicle equipped with an agentic AI system to boost productivity while driving.

These projects echo will.i.am's early experiments with technology. At age 12, he recorded rap loops over his sister's Barbie and the Rockers cassette tape and played the mix through an animatronic Teddy Ruxpin toy bear. This creative approach to technology has remained consistent throughout his career, from his 2010 music video for "Imma Be Rocking That Body," where he demonstrated AI-generated vocals, to his current work in agentic AI systems.

How to Prepare for an AI-Driven Career: Key Strategies Will.i.am Emphasizes

• Develop Hyper-Creativity: Focus on generating novel ideas and concepts that haven't been materialized yet, since AI can replicate technical skills but struggles with original creative vision and strategic thinking.
• Understand AI as a Tool, Not a Threat: Learn to work alongside AI systems rather than compete directly with them; view yourself as a company that can leverage AI to scale your impact and reach.
• Study Ethics and Accountability: Understand the risks and guardrails necessary for responsible AI deployment, including copyright concerns, licensing requirements, and the potential for misuse in corporate contexts.

Will.i.am's teaching approach has resonated with students and industry observers alike. Nate Sloan, an assistant professor of musicology at the University of Southern California and co-host of the podcast Switched on Pop, noted that "will.i.am has made it more a part of his identity and more of an integral part of his career than anyone else I can think of" when it comes to integrating technology into creative work.

The music industry itself is grappling with similar questions about AI's role. Distribution platforms like Believe and TuneCore have begun blocking AI-generated tracks created on unlicensed platforms like Suno, while simultaneously signing licensing agreements with platforms like Udio and ElevenLabs. Believe's CEO Denis Ladegaillerie stated that the company has deployed AI detection technologies with "99% reliability" to identify which platform generated any given track, allowing them to block distribution of content from unlicensed services.

"We do not understand why streaming services aren't blocking tracks that create significant potential copyright liability, pollute the user experience, and are essentially used to enable streaming fraud," said Denis Ladegaillerie, founder and CEO of Believe.

Denis Ladegaillerie, Founder and CEO at Believe

This industry shift underscores the stakes of will.i.am's educational mission. As AI music generation becomes more accessible, understanding the legal and ethical landscape around AI tools is becoming essential knowledge for creators. Will.i.am's investments in licensed platforms like Udio position him at the intersection of creative innovation and responsible AI development.

Looking ahead, will.i.am plans to teach a second semester at Arizona State University while continuing his music career with The Black Eyed Peas, who are scheduled for an overseas tour in June. His work suggests that the future of creative careers may not be about choosing between art and technology, but rather mastering both simultaneously. As he told his students, "The joys of making music and singing on stage, we'll always do that. But teaching is this different calling. This is just the first year, and it's dope".