I truly believe learning about AI in its entirety is important not just as a major but beyond, as it is something that affects all majors and roles in the world.
This is my second year at Drake University as an artificial intelligence and computer science major, though I took a pre-college program at Carnegie Mellon University studying AI.
To my knowledge, Drake offers a wider range of courses about AI than many other universities. Most other universities specifically focus on how to use generative AI. Drake does focus on a wider range of subjects around AI, specifically ethics, philosophy and prompting. During my early looks at Drake, the professors and school made a point to show how the program differs with courses on how ethics, philosophy and law relate to AI.
Drake’s AI, philosophy and ethics lessons are intensive and provide a pivotal role for AI students. Many classes end up developing an idea of how AI should grow and look in the future.
At first, I thought this was a waste of time and was not excited that I was moving away from my algorithms and math. However, this part of the AI major has not only taught me the most, but also has fundamentally changed my views of AI.
One course I think stands out is the Generative AI: Theory and Practice, taught by Chris Snider and Christopher Porter. It teaches the intricacies of prompting that most people do not realize are there. Some forms of prompting act almost like coding or writing an essay. You need to understand the relations to the words you are giving it, along with how an AI might interpret the meaning behind them.
The prime example that is easy to use and understand is by saying “more ___.” Doing that repeatedly will bring out that attribute more from the AI. If I could retake any class, it would be this one. I strongly recommend anyone at Drake to take this course if they believe AI will be part of their life at all.
The Drake computer science department has limited resources due to the AI and computer science majors being so small. Drake does focus on many facets of the subject, though it does come with a cost. There are fewer classes teaching how to build AI compared to other universities.
The classes the AI major has created can benefit other majors around it, and that is the value the AI major is providing. It draws inspiration and works with other departments as a whole to create a more complete understanding of AI. It also allows students outside of the AI major to have a chance to learn about AI and its uses and roles.
With a year left before I graduate from Drake, the AI major has prepared me to interact with all aspects of AI. Not only does the AI major prepare you to create AI, but it also prepares you to become anything that requires thought and consideration for AI’s future. It gives you skills to think about the positives and negatives of using AI.
