NPR Topics: News | Will.i.am wants to future-proof a new generation by Chloe Veltman AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Will.i.am, the former Black Eyed Peas front‑man turned Arizona State University professor, is using weekly three‑hour “agentic AI” classes to help roughly 80 students build autonomous AI agents, aiming to future‑proof a new generation for a tech‑driven job market. Drawing on his long‑standing tech‑forward persona—from the 2009 “Boom Boom Pow” lyric to early experiments with a Teddy Ruxpin‑based rap loop—he blends creative motivation with practical instruction, breaking down AI for non‑technical learners and emphasizing ethics and accountability. His projects include the “MÖFO” AI‑powered teddy bear developed with Qualcomm, investments in firms such as Anthropic, OpenAI and Udio, and collaborations with Apple, Intel and Nvidia, while he also continues his music career and is developing AI‑enabled products like an autonomous‑agent‑driven electric vehicle. Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/04/30/nx-s1-5803133/black-eyed-peas-will-i-am-profile-arizona-state-ai-agent #William #BlackEyedPeas #ASU